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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4dc68e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #68292 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/68292) diff --git a/old/68292-0.txt b/old/68292-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 0dcf345..0000000 --- a/old/68292-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6430 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tales from silver lands, by Charles J. -Finger - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Tales from silver lands - -Author: Charles J. Finger - -Illustrator: Paul Honoré - -Release Date: June 11, 2022 [eBook #68292] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Al Haines, Cindy Beyer & the online Distributed - Proofreaders Canada team at https://www.pgdpcanada.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FROM SILVER LANDS *** - - - - - - - - - [Cover Illustration] - - [Illustration: Frontispiece] - - - - - TALES _from_ - SILVER LANDS - - _by_ - CHARLES J. FINGER - - WOODCUTS BY - PAUL HONORÉ - - GARDEN CITY NEW YORK - DOUBLEDAY & COMPANY, INC. - 1957 - - - - - CL - - COPYRIGHT, 1924, BY - DOUBLEDAY & COMPANY - - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - - PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - - - - - TO THE GOLDEN HEARTED - CARL SANDBURG - AND HIS FRIENDS, MY CHILDREN - HELEN AND HERBERT - - - - - CONTENTS - - CHAPTER PAGE - I A TALE OF THREE TAILS..................... 1 - II THE MAGIC DOG............................. 14 - III THE CALABASH MAN.......................... 23 - IV NA-HA THE FIGHTER......................... 35 - V THE HUMMING-BIRD AND THE FLOWER........... 43 - VI THE MAGIC BALL............................ 48 - VII EL ENANO.................................. 59 - VIII THE HERO TWINS............................ 69 - IX THE FOUR HUNDRED.......................... 79 - X THE KILLING OF CABRAKAN................... 92 - XI THE TALE OF THE GENTLE FOLK............... 99 - XII THE TALE THAT COST A DOLLAR............... 107 - XIII THE MAGIC KNOT............................ 122 - XIV THE BAD WISHERS........................... 134 - XV THE HUNGRY OLD WITCH...................... 143 - XVI THE WONDERFUL MIRROR...................... 156 - XVII THE TALE OF THE LAZY PEOPLE............... 170 - XVIII RAIRU AND THE STAR MAIDEN................. 188 - XIX THE CAT AND THE DREAM MAN................. 197 - - - - - WOODCUTS - - One day there came to their house a man - in a torn poncho....................... _Frontispiece_ - - PAGE - When the first snow commenced to fall she was - always full of glee, standing on a rock, - screaming like a wind-gale...................... 48 - He took flat pieces of wood and began cutting out - figures like little men......................... 176 - Soon, to his astonishment he saw, close at hand, a - beautiful city.................................. 194 - - - - - TALES _from_ - SILVER LANDS - - - - - [Illustration] - TALES FROM SILVER LANDS - - - - - A TALE OF THREE TAILS - - -DOWN in Honduras there is a town called Pueblo de Chamelecón which is -not much of a town after all. There is only one street in it, and the -houses are like big beehives that have been squared up, and the roofs -are of straw. There is no sidewalk, no roadway, and the houses are -unfenced, so that you step from the room into the sandy street and, -because of the heat, when you are inside you wish that you were out, and -when you are outside you wish that you were in. So the children of the -place spend much time down at the little river. At least they did when I -was there. - -I rode there on a donkey and, the day being hot, let the animal graze, -or sleep, or think, or dream, or work out problems—or whatever it is -that a donkey does with his spare time—and I watched the children in -the water. There was one, a little baby just able to toddle around, who -crawled down to the water’s edge, rolled in and swam about like a little -dog, much as the babies of Tierra del Fuego will swim in the icy waters -of the Far South. He came out on my side of the water, as lively as a -grig, smiling every bit as friendly as any other little chap of his age, -white, brown, or yellow. - -I stayed there that night because the day did not get cool and in the -evening the people sat outside of their houses and played the guitar and -sang. Now I had with me a little musical instrument like a tiny organ, -which I bought in France, and it was so compact and handy that I could -carry it everywhere as easily as I could a blanket. In fact, I used to -ride with it behind my saddle, wrapped in my bedding. Well, as the -people seemed to like their music, I brought out mine, so we had a very -jolly concert, in spite of my poor voice, which they politely pretended -not to notice. Then later, from curiosity, the children came about me -and, to amuse them as well as myself, having done so badly at the -singing, I did a few tricks with wads of rolled paper and a couple of -tin cups, and the little boy who had swum across the pond laughed as -loudly as any one there. That pleased his father mightily, so much -indeed that he brought me a cup of goat’s milk and some cassava bread -and told me that I was a fine fellow. To please me further, he sang a -very, very long song. It was all about the parrot and the wonderful -things it did, a parrot that had lived long among people and learned -their songs, and when the bird flew back to the forest, it still sang, -and so well that all the other parrots in the forest learned to sing the -song from beginning to end. But what was curious was that at the end of -every other verse, there was this line: - - When the rat had a tail like a horse. - -So when he had done I asked him about that, for all the rats I had seen -had tails which were far from beautiful, according to my notion. - -The man listened gravely, then said: “But certainly, once the rat had a -tail like a horse.” - -“When was that?” I asked. - -“When the rabbit had a tail like a cat,” he said. - -“But I am still puzzled,” I told him. “Was it long ago?” - -“It was when the deer’s tail was plumed like the tail of a dog,” he told -me. - -As we talked, a kind of polite silence was upon all the people gathered -about us; then a very, very old woman who was smoking a cigar nodded her -head and said: “But Tio Ravenna is right. It was in the days of Hunbatz, -who lived on beetles and spiders, and I heard it from my mother’s -mother, and she from the mother of her mother.” Then the old woman went -on smoking with her eyes closed, and all who were there nodded at one -another, thinking, I suppose, that the old grandmother would presently -tell the story. But of course, they who knew her well were wiser than to -ask her to tell the Tale of Three Tails, so every one waited. - -Presently, a little girl gave the old grandmother a piece of sugar and -asked: “Was it two brothers, or three, who had to clear the great -forest? I am not sure.” - -At that the little old lady’s eyes were bright and she threw away her -cigar and said: - -“Two brothers. That I have told you before.” After a little sigh, which -was only pretending that she was weary of telling the tale, she said: -“You know that I have told it to you before, and it is wrong that I -should have to tell it so often. But you see this.” - -So saying, she took from her bosom, where she had it fastened to a silk -thread, a little piece of jade and let us see it. It was broken from a -larger piece, but we could make out on it a carving which I saw to be a -deer with a tail like a sheep dog’s. We passed it about and every one -looked at it carefully, although certainly all of them must have seen it -time and time again, and when it came to the old grandmother again she -replaced it and told us the Tale of Three Tails, just as I have written -it here. - - * * * * * - -Once, long ago, the rat had a beautiful tail like a horse, with long -sweeping hairs, though it was before my time of life. It was in the days -of old Hunbatz, and he was a wizard who lived in the dark of the great -forest that used to be on the other side of the big river. In those days -things were not as now and animals were different; some larger, some -smaller. The deer, as you have seen on the stone I showed you, had a -tail like a dog, and the rabbit’s tail was long and furry like the tail -of a cat. - -Now in that land there was a hunter with whom neither lasso nor arrow -ever failed, and he had two sons, beautiful to look at and brave of -heart, stout and quick of foot. Not only did the brothers work better -than any men had ever worked, but they could play ball and sing, -throwing the ball higher than birds could fly, and singing in a way that -brought the wild things to hear them. Nor was there living creature able -to run as swiftly as the two brothers. The birds alone could outrace -them. - -The brothers being grown, their father thought that it was time for them -to make a home for themselves, so chose a place on the farther side of -the forest, and told them to clear it, which, he said, could be done in -seven days. It was no little forest, you must remember, but a vast -place, where sunlight never pierced, and the roots of trees were like -great ropes; a jungle that stretched for miles and miles and the tangle -in it was so thick that a monkey could barely get through without -squeezing. Deep in the forest there was a blackness like the blackness -of night. The trunks of the trees were so large that three men holding -hands could not circle them and where there were no trees, there were -vines and snakelike lianas and thorn-bushes and flowers so great that a -man could lie down to sleep in the shade of them. - -The first day the brothers took a great space, piling the trees at one -corner, clearing the tangle and leaving all as smooth as the water of a -lake. They sang as they worked, and they sang as they rested in the heat -of the day, and the organ bird and the flute bird answered them from the -gold-green shade. So pleasant was their music that the old iguana, -though he was as big as a man, came from his resting place in the trees -to listen. - -Seeing how things were going, old Hunbatz in the dark of the forest grew -very angry, fearing that his hiding place would soon dwindle and vanish. -So he went to the great gray owl, his friend, and they talked the matter -over between them. The owl told Hunbatz that he must set the father’s -heart against the brothers, telling him that the boys were lazy and -instead of working spent their time in playing with the ball and in -singing. - -“Go,” said the owl, “to their father, and when he asks how the lads fare -with their work, say to him: - - They sing and they play - For half of the day. - -It may fall out that he will grow angry and cut off their heads, and -thus the forest will be safe for us.” - -That seemed to the wizard to be good advice, and before the close of the -day’s work, old Hunbatz, who could fly by flapping his hands in a -certain way like a swimmer, cast himself into the air and flew with -great swiftness to the place where the father lived. But he took care to -dress himself like a woodman. - -“Well met,” said the father, seeing Hunbatz, but thinking him no wizard -of course. “From where do you come?” - -“From the other side of the forest,” was the reply. - -“Then perchance you saw my two sons who are clearing the forest,” said -the father. - -“I did,” said Hunbatz. - -“And how are the boys doing?” asked the father. - -At that old Hunbatz shook his head sadly and answered, as the owl had -told him: - - “They sing and they play - For half of the day.” - -That, you know, was quite untrue, for while they sang, there was no -stopping of work, and as for the play, it is true that they threw the -ball from one to the other, but so clever were they that one would throw -the ball so high that it would take hours and hours before it came down -again, and of course, while it was in the air, the brothers went on -working. - -“I would cut off their heads to teach them a lesson,” said Hunbatz, “if -they were sons of mine.” Then he turned on his heel and went away, not -flying until he was out of the father’s sight, for he did not wish any -man to know that he was a wizard. - -To be sure, the good man was grieved and his face clouded, when he heard -the tale of Hunbatz, but he said nothing, and, a short time after, the -brothers came home. He was much surprised when, asking the lads how much -work they had done that day, they told him that they had cleared off the -space of forest he had bidden them to. After much thought he told them -that the next day they would have to do twice as much as before. The -brothers thought the new task hard, but they went to work with a good -will and on the second day the trees fell like corn before a man with a -machete, and before night they had finished that which they had been -given to do. - -Again old Hunbatz flew through the air to the father and tried to set -him against the boys, and again that night, when the boys were home, -their task was set for the next day twice as much as the day before. - -It was the same the third day, and the fourth, until at last the boys -came to a point where by the mightiest working they could not move a -stick or a blade of grass more. And yet, because of old Hunbatz, the -father set them a task still greater. - -On the fifth day things looked very hopeless for the boys, and their -hearts were sad as they looked at the forest and saw the task that their -father had set them to do. They went to work feeling for the first time -it would be impossible for the sun to go down on their finished task, -and the heart of old Hunbatz was glad. But the birds in the forest were -silent that morning, for they too knew that there were sad hearts in the -brothers. Even the grasshoppers and the mosquitoes and the bees were -still, and as for the boys, not a note of joy could they raise. - -Then to them came the iguana, wise old lizard who knew everything that -went on in the forest, and as soon as he had heard what the brothers had -to say he smiled and called on them to listen, after making sure that -there was no living creature to hear except the birds, for of them he -had no fear, knowing that the birds tell no secrets. - -“Be cheerful,” said the iguana, “and I will tell you a charm. It is -this: mark about the handles of your working tools rings of black, -white, red, and green, and before you start to work, sing: - - I must do what I can, - Is the thought of a man, - -and if your hearts are brave, you will see what happens.” - -Having said this and smiled on the brothers, the old iguana climbed into -a tree and stretched himself along the branch of it where he could best -see, and the birds gathered in a great circle, a matchless melody going -up to the sky. - -So the brothers took their axes, their spades, their hoes, and their -machetes, and painted about the handles of them rings of black and of -white and of red and of green, and their voices rang sweet and clear as -they sang, as the iguana had told them: - - “I must do what I can, - Is the thought of a man.” - -No sooner had the last words passed than the whole company of birds -broke out into a chorus, singing, chattering, chirping, whistling, -screaming, each according to its manner and, without hands touching -them, axes went to work cutting down trees, machetes chopped at lianas -and vines, spades cleared and dug; and trees, bushes, and weeds piled -themselves in great heaps at the edge of the clearing, so that in less -than an hour the whole task was done. Then it was that all things in the -forest were glad and the good iguana smiled broadly. The very monkeys -joined in and, catching the ball which the brothers threw, tossed it -from tree to tree until it passed through the whole jungle and back -again. - -But old Hunbatz was angry beyond measure, so angry that he whirled about -on his heels three hundred times, turning so rapidly that he looked like -a storm cloud, and his long whiskers were tangled about him like a -mantle. But the faster he whirled, the more his anger boiled, and, -flapping his hands, he shot into the air, going so swiftly that his very -clothes were scorched. - -“How are the boys?” asked the father, when Hunbatz stood before him. - -For answer, Hunbatz screamed: “Your boys are idle fellows! - - They sing and they play - For half of the day. - -Had I such sons, I would cut their heads off to teach them a lesson.” - -Said the father: “To-morrow I shall go to the forest, and if you have -not spoken truth, then this arrow which has never yet missed a mark -shall find one in your heart. But if it is as you say, then my sons -shall feel my anger.” - -Old Hunbatz did not like that at all, for well he knew that the hunter’s -arrows were never wasted. So back he flew to the owl and the two of them -whispered together. That night there was a great gathering of the -animals: of the hare, the deer, the rat, the jaguar, the puma, the -opossum, and many others. The rat, the deer, and the rabbit led them, -and in a wonderfully short time, not only were all things restored and -the work of the day undone, but the trees and the bushes and the vines -and the lianas that had been moved on the other days were put back in -their old places, growing and blooming, so that all was as though the -brothers had never been at the forest at all. - -Sad was the hour the next morning when the hunter came with his two sons -and saw the forest as though hand had never touched it. The brothers -could not believe their eyes. Grinning from the thick of a rubber tree -was the face of Hunbatz, and on his shoulder was the owl. For a moment -the father thought to cut off the heads of the lads to teach them a -lesson, but on second thought he told them that he would give them -another chance. - -“What should have been done is not done,” he said. “I will grant you a -day and a night to clear all the forest as you told me it was cleared. -To-morrow morning I will come again, and see whether all is well done.” -At that he left them and went his way. - -No sooner had he gone than the two brothers went to see the iguana, who -told them of the witchery of the owl and Hunbatz and bade them to act as -before. So they made the ring about the handles of their working tools -once more and sang: - - “I must do what I can, - Is the thought of a man,” - -and, as on the day before, axes, machetes, and spades went to work and -in a short time all was clear again. Then the iguana told the brothers -of the evil that Hunbatz had done and bade them set traps and keep watch -that night. So three traps were made and set, and when night fell, from -all parts of the forest there came animals led by the rat, the deer, and -the rabbit, and old Hunbatz and the owl watched from the dark caves of -the leaves. - -No sooner had the first three animals stepped into the clearing than -they were caught fast in the traps, whereupon the rest of the animals -turned and fled. Then the brothers rushed to the traps. The rabbit gave -a great jump when he felt the jaws close upon his beautiful catlike -tail, but it was chopped off close to the body. The deer, with his tail -like a plume, fared no better. So both deer and rabbit fled to the woods -ashamed, and, as you see for yourself, have had no tails ever since. As -for the rat, he was far too wise to jump as the rabbit and deer had -done. But seeing the brothers coming, he pulled and pulled and pulled so -that all the beautiful hair was stripped, leaving him with but a bare -and ugly thing of a tail as you see to-day. - -The next morning when the hunter-father came, there was the forest -cleared and all in good order as the boys had said. So he sought out old -Hunbatz, who flapped his hands and flew for very fear. But so fast he -went that his clothes were burnt off, and his skin was baked into a hard -crust by the great heat, and he fell to the earth and so became what we -call an armadillo. As for the two brothers, they lived very happily for -many, many years, and things went well with them and the land they lived -in was a land of good harvest and fruit trees. - -So now you know the Tale of Three Tails and if you do not believe it, -look at the rat and the deer and the rabbit and the armadillo, and see -for yourself. - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE MAGIC DOG - - -DOWN where the forest is so thick that the sun rarely pierces the leafy -roof, where there are mosses and ferns and little plants of the -brightest green, where parrots screech and thousands of little monkeys -chatter in the trees, there stands a great white temple. Once, long ago, -there was joy and gladness there, and flower-crowned people danced and -sang, but now vines hang about the doors and window holes and there are -tall rank weeds in the courtyard. Still, it is even now very beautiful, -though sad to see. - -Long years before this temple was built, there lived a king, and his -people loved him, and he on his part loved not only his people, but -every flower that grew, every grass blade and every leaf on bush and -tree. Where he came from, none knew, but there were those who said that -he had come from the sea, not in a ship with men, but alone, in a great -and beautiful sea-shell. So they called him, in their own tongue, The -King Who Came in a Sea-shell. And when he went about among his people he -wore a headdress of gold-green feathers, a feather cloak of turquoise -blue, and about his middle was a golden belt set with glittering -precious stones. On his feet were golden sandals and in his hand he bore -a great spear of silver. The spear he carried for a sign only, for there -was no fighting in those days, and it was a time when all went very -well. Every one had enough to eat and to drink and to wear, so that none -had to worry about the day to come. Men loved diamonds and emeralds and -rubies for their beauty, and just as they loved the sight of the tiny -rainbow in a sparkling dew drop. As for other things, corn grew so large -that a single ear was as much as a man could carry and cotton grew not -only white, as we see it now, but red and blue and yellow and scarlet -and black and orange and violet and green. - -It was the daughter of the Sea-shell King who had taught the people how -to grow coloured cotton, and she, with her silky cloud of hair, was the -most beautiful creature ever seen. When she walked about, the air was -sweet with wonderful perfume, birds sang with joy as though their -throats would burst, and slim drooping ferns nodded a welcome. - -The story of the beauty and goodness of the maiden ran through all the -land, and young men who sought her hand came from far and wide. So many -were her suitors that a day was set apart each week, when all the people -gathered to see the young men display their powers or their gifts or -their clevernesses. Some would shoot with the bow and others cast the -lasso. Singers sang the songs they had made and musicians played their -flutes so well that the slender boughs bent to listen. There were gifts, -too, and some brought rare stones cut into the shapes of birds and -animals and flowers, but not one man had touched the heart of the -princess, though she was gracious to all. - -Now before the king came, an evil creature of a witch had ruled the -land, and she had come from the Land of the Shaking Mud. Somehow, the -Sea-shell King had driven her away and, that she should worry his people -no more, he had set a boundary, and guards were on watch day and night -to prevent her in her mischief. So she spent the day in her cave, coming -out only at night to prowl about the boundary, and then only when there -was no moon. Her name was Tlapa. - -One day there came to the king a man in rags, who said that his name was -Maconahola, and the king was glad to see him, the more so because age -was creeping upon the king, and he sought someone wise and brave enough -to rule in his place. But no sooner had the princess looked at the -stranger than she cast down her eyes, saying that he had the face of the -man she had seen in a dream. When the king asked her questions, she said -that in her dream she had followed the stranger about, had slept at his -feet, had tended his fields and made his clothes. At that her father was -greatly astonished, for that his daughter should be the servant of a man -who came clad in rags seemed strange indeed. - -The second day, Maconahola was asked if he bore gifts, but he showed his -empty hands. Then, to the end that no idle or useless man should be in -that land, a time was set and Maconahola was ordered to appear before -the young men and compete with them. At the test Maconahola stood very -well. When the best bowman sent his arrow into the exact centre of the -mark, Maconahola drew his bow and aimed so carefully that his arrow -split the arrow of the other man. Nor was he less skilful with the -lasso, casting his loop so that it fell about the smallest thing aimed -at. It was much the same when the swiftest runner was brought. To be -sure, he ran like a deer, but Maconahola ran like the wind, leaving him -far behind. As for the singing contest, when the stranger sang the very -birds were hushed and, the song being finished, a great quetzal with -jet-black wings, a scarlet breast, and head and back of gold-green -feathers, flew down and sat on the shoulder of Maconahola. - -Then a great shout went up, and all the bowmen, the lasso throwers, the -runners, and the singers came forward and greeted Maconahola, for there -was no jealousy in that land, nor was there envy, and each had it in his -mind to strive for that which seemed best, caring nothing for -self-advancement. As for the king, being very old and tired, he was glad -indeed to find a man who might become ruler in his place. So he stepped -down from his high place and cast his coat made of a thousand turquoise -feathers about the stranger’s shoulders. All went very well indeed, and -the princess was happy to have found the man of her dreams, and the two -of them loved all things, so that all things embraced and loved them. - -But Tlapa, the witch with long crooked nails and black teeth and -ice-like eyes, learned of all this from the bats. Loving evil, and war, -and violence, she was angry that another should come into the land to -rule when the old king died, for she had long waited for the breath to -pass from his body so that she might rule again. Seeing how the people -greeted Maconahola, she became tight-lipped and slit-eyed. One night she -went to Roraima, a place of rocks, where lived a wild man of terrible -strength who sat in his cave all day, crouched over a fire of smoking -green wood. Over the cave fire Tlapa and the wild man whispered long and -long, while bats flapped and fluttered and white worms crawled close to -listen, for they plotted how to dispose of Maconahola. The wild man was -all for dashing into the country, trampling down the guards that stood -in his way, and beating the stranger with his great club of long, blunt -thorns. But that Tlapa would not hear of, knowing that Maconahola could -shoot an arrow that would speedily put an end to the wild man of the -rocks. Far more crafty was she, remembering and telling the wild man of -a strange plant that grew in the gloomy depths of a forest far away, -where, because of the tangled thicket, she could never go. - -No sooner had the wild man learnt of the strange plant than he sprang to -his feet and with great bounds went crashing through the forest, -overturning trees that stood in his way, upsetting huge rocks, splashing -through swamps, and climbing a rocky precipice like a wild cat until he -came to the place where grew the evil weed. He was back again in his -cave before midnight. Taking the weed, Tlapa dried it over a fire of -rotten wood and crushed it into powder. The powder she cast into the air -and, carried by the wind, it fell where the king’s people lived. -Wherever it fell, wherever it touched, there grew hate and suspicion, -jealousy and greed. Where the dust fell on plant or flower, though there -was but the slightest fleck of it, there was immediately a withering and -a dying; the very corn shrivelled and shrunk. Where had been flowers, -there grew in a single night dense, thorny tangle. The very weather -changed and the pleasant cool passed away, so that the days were hot and -the nights icy cold. Some men, touched with a strange greed, laid claim -to great tracts of earth, bidding others begone, and so for the first -time in that land men quarrelled and fought. Even the old king changed a -little and, seeing the trouble that had come upon his land, was -persuaded to believe that Maconahola was the cause. - -Word passed from mouth to mouth and whispering tongues poisoned truth, -and when Maconahola took his walks, grieving to see the withered flowers -and fruits, people hid from his gaze. Thoughts passed to words and words -to deeds, and one day a crowd turned on Maconahola and with sticks and -stones drove him across the border and into a forest where, except for -the cry of a distant bird, it was still as midnight. - -Sad at heart, Maconahola built a little shelter of branches and leaves -and day after day wandered alone. Nor had he living company until one -day there came to him a dog, footsore and thin. The creature was hungry -and weak and thorn-torn, and Maconahola took it in, washed and tended it -and shared with it his meal. And a poor enough meal it was being of -small berries and drops of tree gum and little roots. - -In the morning when he went down to the stream to bathe, the dog did not -follow him, and on his return, to his vast astonishment, he found in -front of his house a field with growing corn and many food plants. It -had grown up in less than an hour. So that evening he was full of -gladness, and with his dog walked about in full enjoyment of the -beautiful green earth, thankful for the humming bees and the gentle wind -that moved the leaves, thankful for the only living creature that was -with him. - -On the next day when he returned from his stream, having left the dog -sleeping in the sun, he found that his little bower of branches and -leaves had been transformed to a house with furnishings all simple, -clean, and bright. And around it were glorious flowers and fruits, and -in the trees birds sang, and humming-birds, looking like flashing -emeralds, darted through the leaves. So again his heart was full of joy -and thankfulness. - -The third day he made as if to go to the river, but instead turned and -hid himself behind the house to watch. Then he saw the wonder, for the -dog threw off its skin and there stood the beautiful maiden whom he had -known as the king’s daughter. At once she set about making garments of -coloured cotton for him, and so rapidly she wrought that they fell from -her hands like flower petals. Then she busied herself weaving a hammock -of silk grass. - -Maconahola made no sign, but went down to the river as usual and when he -returned the dog ran to meet him, thrusting its moist nose into his -hand. But the next day again he hid, and again the dog cast off its skin -and the princess went to the garden, and to her came a cloud of humming -birds. Swiftly Maconahola ran to the dogskin, picked it up and threw it -into the fire, where it burned like dry leaves. Then the princess saw -what had been done and gave a great cry of joy for the spell was broken; -and Maconahola knew a fresh vigour of soul. - -Hand in hand, they returned to the land, and the old king seeing them -coming went out to meet them. And all the people were with him, -overjoyed that Maconahola had returned, seeing the evil that had come -upon them had not been removed with his departure. Overjoyed, too, were -they to see the princess again, for none knew to what place she had -gone, knowing only that she had vanished one evening, and at the same -time a dog had run swiftly through their midst. For certainly, Tlapa the -witch had laid some enchantment upon her with evil design. But evil, -though it may touch the good, cannot for ever bind it, wherefore the -maiden resumed her own form some part of every day. - -There was a great meeting of all the people then, and Maconahola lost no -time in seeking out the witch Tlapa, whom he killed with a silver -pointed arrow shot through her heart. As for the wild man of Roraima, it -is said that learning of the death of the witch, he dashed away in great -terror and, sinking in the Shaking Mud, was seen no more. But the King -of the Sea-shell made Maconahola a ruler, and on the spot where the -bower had been built and where he first saw the dog there was erected -the temple of white stone which you may see for yourself to this day if -you go to Orinoco. - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE CALABASH MAN - - -THERE was once a woman who had an only son, and they lived in great -contentment in a little house by the side of the lake and at the foot of -a mountain. If you go to Guiana, you may see both lake and mountain to -this day. - -In all that land there was no lad so straight, so tall, so graceful as -Aura, and, what is better still, he was kind and gentle. At the close of -the day when he came from his fishing, he and his mother would sit in -the cool of the evening, watching the glory of the sunset and listening -to the music of the silver cascade which fell from the mountain into the -lake. Often the forest animals would come and play about before their -house. The lively little agouti would sport with the black jaguar and -the great armadillo would let the coral snake coil on his shell, while -birds of wondrous beauty flashed through the leaves of the trees like -living fire. Great butterflies with silky white and green wings -fluttered about the flowers showing their beauty, and from them the old -mother learned the way to weave bright designs into the hammocks that -she made of silk grass. At such times, before the sun dropped into its -purple bed of cloud, and before the million glowworms lit their lights, -the queen ant would sing: - - “From forest and hill - We come at your will. - Call, Aura, call!” - -All went very well until one day Aura, going to the lake, found his -basket net broken and torn, and taking it from the water saw with -surprise that the fish which had been in it were eaten. Such a thing had -never happened before, for in forest and hill he knew no enemy. As he -stood in wonderment, the torn basket in his hand, he heard a voice -behind him say: - - “From forest and hill - We come at your will. - Call, Aura, call!” - -Looking around he saw a woodpecker, and the bright beady eyes of the -bird were looking at him. Thereupon, Aura told the woodpecker to watch -well, and setting a new basket net in the water he went a little way -into the forest to gather wild fruits. Not far had he gone when he heard -the watching woodpecker call, “Toc, Toc!” Swiftly he ran, but though he -sped like a deer he was too late, for the second basket net was -destroyed even more completely than the first and again the fish were -devoured. - -A third net was set, and this time he called upon the cuckoo to watch -while he gathered his fruits. Very soon he heard the “Pon, pon!” of his -new watcher and Aura lost no time in running to the lakeside. There in -the water and close to the basket net was the flat, mud-coloured head of -a swamp alligator with its dull and heavy-lidded eyes. Quick as -lightning, Aura fitted an arrow to his bow and let fly, and the shaft -struck the reptile between the eyes. A moment later the beast -disappeared into the water. - -The basket net had been partly broken by the alligator, but Aura mended -it and again entered the forest. But before long he heard the cuckoo -call, and much louder this time, so he ran like the wind, fitting an -arrow to his bow as he went. On the lake-bank stood a beautiful Indian -maiden in a gown that looked like silver, and she was weeping bitterly. -At that Aura’s heart was touched with pity, for he could see no living -thing unhappy and remain happy himself. Gently he took her by the hand -and asked her to tell him her name. - -“Anu-Anaitu,” she said, and smiled through her tears like the sun after -a summer rain. - -“From where do you come?” was his next question. - -“Far, far away, where the great owl lives,” she made reply, and pointed -in the direction of the dark forest. - -“And who is your father?” he asked, and at that there was a ripple of -water rings on the lake and Aura thought he saw the nose of the -alligator. - -But she made no answer to his question. Instead, she covered her face -with her hands and bent her head, so that her hair fell about her like a -cloud. - -Seeing her strange grief Aura said no more, but led her to his mother -who received her kindly, and for many months the three of them dwelt -together very happily. Yet whenever Anaitu thought of her father, she -wept bitterly. - -At last there came a day when Aura asked the maiden to be his wife and -told her that if she would give him her hand, the two of them would make -a journey to her own land so that she might say farewell to her people, -telling them that she had made her home in a land of peace and -brightness with those who loved her. Hearing that, little Anaitu wept -with terror, telling Aura of the fearful journey that would be theirs, -through a place where were great bats and gray hairy spiders and -centipedes, and harmful and fearful things. - -“Then stay with my mother and I shall go alone,” said Aura, seeing her -fear. “And I will seek out your father and tell him that all is well -with you.” - -“That is worse still,” cried the maiden, “for there is an evil spirit in -my land and my father is bewitched. Seeing you, he will destroy you and -your mother and me as well, once he learns where we are.” - -Greatly puzzled with all this, Aura went to see a wise old hermit who -lived at the end of the lake, and to him he told his troubles and fears. -After much thought, the hermit told Aura that he would make his journey -in safety if he feared not and carried himself like a man. “And,” said -he, “if it should come to pass that you are offered the choice of -things, see to it that you choose the simplest.” - -More than that the wise man would not say, so Aura went home and -straightway prepared his canoe, persuaded Anaitu to go with him, and -presently they set off. - -The way was fearful enough, as the maiden had said, for much of it was -through dark forests and between high river banks where the tree roots -reached out black and twisted like evil serpents. Again, they had to -pass through swamps where alligators slept and strange yellow beasts -with heads large as houses lay hidden. And for many long hours they -wound in and out of tangled jungles where the sun never shone and in the -depths of which were strange things that roared so that the very trees -trembled. - -After many days they came to a smooth stretch of sand, and then the -maiden told him that they had arrived in the land of her father. - -“And now I must leave you,” she said, “but my mother will come and offer -you one of three things. See to it, dear Aura, that you choose wisely, -for all depends upon your choice.” At that she waved him a farewell and -went up the bank and so passed from his sight. - -Before long there came down the bank a wrinkled old woman with sorrowful -eyes, and she bore three gourds. Setting them down by the side of the -canoe, she bade Aura choose one. On the top of one gourd was a cover of -gold, on the second a cover of silver, and on the third a cover of clay. -Lifting the covers, Aura saw in the first fresh blood. In the gourd with -the silver top he saw flesh, and in the third, a piece of cassava bread. -Aura bore in mind the words of the old hermit and quickly chose the -gourd that held the bread. - -“You have done well,” said the old woman. “This is a land where men -believe in gold alone, and much blood is spilled because of it. Far -better is it that men should choose that which is in the earth. Now -having so chosen, I will lead you to my husband, whose name is -Kaikoutji. But here cruelty reigns everywhere and he may tear you to -pieces.” - -Aura had no mind to do otherwise than go through with his task and so -told the old woman. Whereupon she led him to the top of the bank, where -he again saw his Anaitu, and the maiden and her mother hid Aura in a -forest near the house, while they went in to prepare Kaikoutji for the -visit. Hearing that the young man who loved his daughter was near, the -old man fell into a most marvellous rage and so great was his anger that -he rushed out and bent trees as though they were reeds and bit rocks as -a man bites a crust of bread. So there was much trouble before he was -persuaded to see the gentle Aura. Even then, Anaitu begged Aura to -return, but he threw his arms around her and was gone before she could -say a word. - -Strange things happened as he ran to the house. Great branches broke and -fell without hands touching them and stones leaped from the earth and -whizzed close to his ears, but he hastened on and entered into a hall. -Kaikoutji was not there; but as Aura looked round, he came in running. -The bewitched old man was strangely decked out with bones and teeth -which dangled at the ends of strings fastened to his arms and legs and -his head was covered with a great calabash painted green, in the front -of which were two holes pierced, through which he looked. For a moment -Kaikoutji stood, then giving a terrible howl he began to leap about, -waving his arms and rattling the dangling bones and teeth—a very -painful sight to Aura. The howling the man made was terrible. After much -of this he stopped, turning the holes of his calabash on Aura. - -“What can you do?” he yelled. “What can you do? Can you bend trees? Can -you bite rocks? Can you leap like this?” Again he commenced to dance up -and down, each leap being higher than the one before it, so that at last -his calabash struck the roof. - -When he had quieted down again, Aura said: - -“I cannot leap. I cannot bend trees and I cannot bite rocks as you do. -But I can work with my hands and make whatever you wish made.” - -Hearing that, Kaikoutji whirled about and gave three mighty leaps, -rattling his bones and dangling teeth furiously. - -“Make me a magic stool,” he shouted. “And carve it of wood, with the -head of a jaguar at one end and my head carved at the other. And see to -it that you have it finished by sunrise, or else you die.” Then he gave -a yell, whirled about and rushed from the hall. - -Aura saw that the task would be hard, even if he did what he had been -set to do in the quiet of his own home. But without having seen the face -of Kaikoutji he wondered greatly how he would complete his work. For all -that he took his knife, selected a block of wood and went to work, and -he worked with such a will that by midnight he had it all finished but -the rough place at the end where was to appear the likeness of -Kaikoutji. So he went to the old wife who had brought him the gourds and -begged her to describe the features of her husband. But that she refused -to do, saying that if she did so, Kaikoutji, who knew everything, being -an enchanted man, would kill them all. An hour passed and everything was -the same, Aura’s work unfinished, his will as strong as ever. Then to -him came the gentle maiden who took him by the hand and led him into -another chamber where the old man sat in a corner asleep, his green -calabash over his head. In another corner of the room was a hammock and -into that Aura crept, thinking that if he kept quiet and remained -hidden, by some chance the calabash might fall off and the face of the -man be seen. But after looking long and seeing no move on the part of -the sleeping man, he grew weak and weary. - -Out of the corner near him came a small voice which said: - - “From forest and hill - We come at your will. - Call, Aura, call!” - -and looking that way he saw a mouse. At that the heart of Aura was glad, -the more as he saw the mouse run to the sleeping man and begin to nibble -at his hand. For a moment it looked as if Kaikoutji would take off his -calabash, for he was plainly annoyed. But instead, by chance, he set his -hand on the mouse, caught it, and flung it to the end of the room. - -Again a voice was heard and this time Aura saw a spider dropping from -the ceiling, and as it dropped it said: - - “From forest and hill - We come at your will. - Call, Aura, call!” - -Over to the sleeper ran the spider, but matters were no better than -before, for Kaikoutji dropped his hand, caught the spider, and threw it -after the mouse. - -No sooner had Kaikoutji fallen asleep again than there came into the -room ants by hundreds and thousands, and leading them was the queen ant -who sang: - - “From forest and hill - We come at your will. - Call, Aura, call!” - -Like little soldiers they marched on the sleeper, swarming over his -hands, his body, his legs. Under the calabash they went, a half hundred -of them. That was too much even for Kaikoutji, and he leaped to his -feet, dashed the calabash to the earth, and fell to brushing off the -ants in lively manner. But the calabash was broken to pieces by the -force of the fall, and for the rest of that night he slept with his face -exposed. - -From his hiding place it did not take long for Aura to learn his ugly -features. Nor did it escape his notice that between the eyes was an -arrow mark, and by that he knew that Kaikoutji was also the alligator he -had shot in the lake. When he was sure that the old man was asleep, he -slipped out quietly and went to his work, and with such spirit he -wrought that before sunrise he had carved the face on the end of the -stool. Better still, so exact was his work, that all who saw it knew the -face of Kaikoutji the terrible. But when the old man saw it and noted -the arrow mark between the eyes, he leaped higher than he had ever -leaped before, having no calabash to hinder him, and declared that the -task had been too easy and that another must be done. - -“Build me,” he said, “a house of feathers before sundown, and see to it -that there is no bird in the forest from which there is not a feather -taken.” Then, giving strict orders that no one should enter the part of -the forest in which Aura was put, he leaped up and down several times, -screaming horribly, after which he hastened away. - -When all was quiet, Aura lifted his head and sang: - - “From forest and hill - Oh, come. ’Tis my will. - I call. I call.” - -Then there was a great rushing sound and from everywhere came birds: sea -birds and land birds, river birds and lake birds, birds that flew, ran, -and waded. There were sober brown birds, and birds more glorious than -the rainbow. There was a cloud of humming-birds, glittering like -powdered gold, and there were proud ostriches. Chakars dropped from the -sky singing, and blood-red flamingoes raced with golden-crested wrens. -There were songbirds, and silent birds, and birds whose cry was like the -sound of a golden bell. There were storks, hawks, vultures, condors, -swans, lapwings, and mocking-birds. - -Not a moment did they lose. In and out and round about they went, -weaving wonderfully, their busy beaks at work, and before an hour had -passed there stood the most wonderful house of feathers that the eye of -man ever saw. In the light of the sun it shone green-gold, violet, -purple, brown, white, and scarlet. And when the last feather was woven -the condor called, and the beating of so many wings, as the birds left, -made the very air throb. When all was again silent it seemed to Aura -that the work had been done in the twinkling of an eye. - -The minute the sun touched the edge of the world Kaikoutji came howling -and leaping. When he saw the feather house he stood for a moment with -open mouth. So angry he was at the sight that his tongue was dry and -parched and he could say nothing. But the glory of what he saw dazzled -and blinded him, and with a howl he turned and plunged into the depths -of the forest and was seen no more. Some say that he was drowned in the -Lake of Pitch. - -But Aura and Anaitu lived in the house of feathers and from that day to -this the people of that land have been kind and gentle and have -forgotten the evil days when cruelty reigned everywhere. Also, they know -now that there are things more glorious than gold. - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - NA-HA THE FIGHTER - - -IN the Far South near Cape Horn there is a place of many islands, and it -is a corner of the world where winds are piercing cold and great black -clouds scurry across a lead-gray sky. From snowclad mountains slide -rivers of ice from which break off mighty pieces to fall into the sea -with thunder-sounds. It is a land wrinkled into narrow valleys that are -always gloomy and cold and wet. Cold, ice cold, is the gray-green sea, -and the wild cries of a million sea birds fill the air. Sometimes great -albatrosses sweep up the channels between the high, jagged mountains or -drop low to sail over penguin-crowded rocks, and sometimes the mountain -echoes are deep-toned with the booming of walrus and the barking of -seals. But people are few. There are Indians there, poor gentle folk who -fish in the sea and who know nothing but a life of cold, and they paddle -or sit crouching in their canoes, taking no heed of the biting wind and -the snow that falls on their naked bodies. - -Travelling in that part of the world, I came upon a boy who had been -left, somehow, on an island not much larger than a good-sized -playground. He must have been there alone for some months, for he had -lived on mussels and shell-fish, and the empty shells formed a -good-sized heap about his sleeping place. Though I questioned him -closely later, when we came to know one another, I could never learn how -he got there. He was, I suppose, about ten years old, and certainly -bright and intelligent. As for his memory it was quite remarkable, and -he picked up words and the names of things very rapidly. Altogether, he -stayed with me for three months, and I was often astonished at the -aptness with which he did some things, as, for instance, the making of -an arrow-head from a piece of broken bottle. But other things he seemed -quite unable to do. A knot in a rope puzzled him sorely and for a long -time a belt-buckle was a deep mystery to him. - -One day I found that he was trying to tell me a story about a seal, for -we had seen several that morning. For awhile I paid no attention, being -occupied at something or other that required care, but soon it dawned on -me that he was very earnest and that the tale was a long one. Fearing -that I had missed much by my preoccupation and carelessness, I made him -tell it to me a second and a third and a fourth time, and presently made -shift to piece things together, and so get a fair notion of his story. - -I have called the tale by the name of the hero and have set it down in -my own words and as I understood it. Were I to write it in his words it -would go something like this: - -“Many day, a far day, under-water man walk water. Eat man my father’s -father; men cry much hard.” There would have to be indicated, too, much -gesticulation and arm waving by way of illustration and emphasis. . . . -So here is the tale. - - * * * * * - -Long years ago, the people of that land were sadly at the mercy of the -wild, hairy folk who lived under the sea. To be sure, there were long -periods when they were left in peace to do their fishing, though from -their canoes they could look down into the waters and see the under-sea -people walking on the sands at the bottom, very shadowy and vague, -though, in the greenish light. Still, it was clear enough, for those who -watched, to see their hair-covered bodies, their long and serpent-like -arms and their noseless faces. - -But again, there were times when the under-sea men marched in great -numbers out of the water and caught the land men, dragging them down to -their deaths. In such numbers they came that there was no resisting -them. Nor was there escape, for the under-sea people could walk on the -water, going faster than the wind itself. With ear-splitting booming -they would form themselves into a wide circle about the canoes, then -draw nearer in wild rushes or strange slidings and drag the frightened -men into the green-gray water. Sometimes a few only were taken and those -that were left, looking down, might see the under-sea folk dragging -their fellows to great rocks to which they bound them with ropes of -leathery kelp. - -One day the under-sea people caught Na-Ha, a youth strong as a wild -wind, whose muscles were knotted like oak branches, one who smiled when -danger came. Five of the noseless people attacked him and of the five, -Na-Ha sent three to the bottom of the sea with broken necks, for though -he smote them with his clenched fist alone, they staggered back and -swiftly sank, and the blood that gushed from their mouths made a -spreading pink cloud in the water. But soon the sea was alive with wild, -raging faces and the roaring of them was like the southeast wind in the -forest trees, yet Na-Ha stood in his little canoe, cold and calm, and -the smile did not leave his lips. Stealthily they crept toward him, none -at first daring to attack, until with a fierce noise and clamour all -rushed together, leaping upon him in his canoe and bearing it down by -sheer press and weight, Na-Ha in the midst of the tangled mass of -hair-covered creatures. Some who saw that fight said that the sudden -silence when the waters closed over them hurt the ears like a thunder -clap, but the true hearted Na-Ha was the last to disappear, and while he -smote the black-haired ones furiously, the smile of scorn was still on -his face. - -Like a picture in a dream some saw the fight among the rocks at the -bottom of the sea, saw the noseless ones crowding about the lad, saw -others leaping over the heads of those who did not dare to near him, saw -others again creeping in the sea sand, trailing kelp ropes to bind him. -Many fell in that battle under the sea and the low waves that lapped the -shore were red with blood that day. How it ended none knew, for with the -dying light and the sand clouds that hung in the water all became gray -at last and then swiftly faded. - -That night the land people wept for Na-Ha the untamed, Na-Ha whose spear -was like lightning, Na-Ha whose canoe rode the waves like the brown -storm-birds. Tales were whispered of how he never bent beneath a load, -of how in the blackest night he drove his boat before the storm, of how -once he swept out to sea after a great whale and slew it, so that his -people were saved from the hunger-death. - -But with the screaming of the morning sea-gulls Na-Ha came to them -again, walking up out of the sea, and his face was set and stern. Nor -did he say a word until he had eaten and thought awhile. - -The tale he told was of the under-seas and of his wandering after the -battle in which he left so many dead in bloody sand. He had been -sore-pressed, he said, but had broken away and come to a door in a cave, -which he entered. It was a vast cavern in which he found himself, so -vast that he could not at first see the end, and the roof of it he never -saw, it being lost in a strange, cool-green light. The floor of the -place was of gold dust and silver sand, and out of it grew networks of -white rocks about which swam fish of many gay colours, while everywhere -seaweeds swayed in gently moving water. - -Soon he came to a place where, on a seat of white, sat a woman with bent -head, and she was fair of skin and her golden hair floated in the water -like a cloud. Being bidden, Na-Ha told her the tale of the fight and how -the earth people were woe-ridden because of the evil work of the -under-sea folk. - -Patiently she listened, her cheek on her hand and her eyes large with -grief, and when Na-Ha had done she told him that there was but one way -to free his people and that was the way of the white death. Much more -she told him and then gave him a great sea-shell and made him know that -when he blew it the great cold that lies under the seven stars would be -freed and the under-sea people driven for all time to their own place. -Then she stepped from her seat, and taking Na-Ha by the hand gazed at -him long. - -“Many there are, Na-Ha, who live not to know of the good that they do. -He who looses the white death must himself be stilled. This I tell you, -Na-Ha, lest your heart fail you,” she said. - -That was all, for he did not tell the tale of how he came again to the -land, but he showed them the great shell and said that his mind was made -up to free his own people, though he himself slept the sleep. At that -the people set up a great shout and there were not wanting those who -offered to sound the blast, saying that it were better for Na-Ha to lead -the people. But that Na-Ha refused, and added that the under-sea woman -had told him that before the blast was blown all the land people should -take themselves and their belongings to a far land under the sun, for -staying where they were, it would do but small good to drive the -under-sea people to their own place for ever, seeing that they -themselves must also be ice-stiffened. - -Then arose a confusion of talk, many being unwilling to leave the land -where their fathers and the fathers of their fathers had lived, but -Na-Ha prevailed and overruled them, and soon the day came when there was -a great movement and canoes were loaded and the land people set off for -the country under the sun. So Na-Ha was left alone. - -Over the length and the breadth of the land Na-Ha walked, to see if by -mischance some had been left, but there were none. And when the sea-hen -and the albatross and the gull and the brown storm-birds saw the -hair-covered, noseless people come out of the sea, when with the black -loneliness of night the snow came and the land waters were prisoned -under glassy ice, when the morning sun looked on a world of rime and -crystal frost, then Na-Ha put the great shell to his lips and blew a -blast that woke the echoes. - -So the world soon grew faint and sleepy and all living creatures except -the noseless ones fled or flew after the land people, and there was -strange stillness everywhere. Trees that had been green grew horned and -black and then ghost-white. And the black wind came raging and furious, -and grinding, groaning ice-mountains swam in the sea and locked the -land, and hills were cased in beryl walls. - -Seeing all that, for a time the under-sea folk were full of delight, -believing themselves to be masters of the land, but soon they feared the -glistening white of the world, the black scurrying clouds, and the -fast-thickening ice. So they sought the sea, but no sea was there, only -thick-ribbed ice across which swept snow-laden, stinging winds, and -instead of the quiet of the under-water there was the calm of the white -death. Under the eaves of the rocks they crouched, but it was small -help, for with the biting cold they shrivelled and shrank. Close they -hugged themselves, their elbows thrust into their hairy sides, their -legs bent, making themselves small. And thus they stayed, nevermore to -be as they were. For in that great cold the under-water people became -seals, and seals they remained. - -Well and bravely stood Na-Ha while all this came to pass, scornful of -the death that clawed at him. Nor did he lay down to die until the great -cold had passed away and his people returned to find the under-water -folk forevermore bound to their own place, powerless to harm, looking -always with wide, wondering eyes, lest the mighty Na-Ha again steal upon -them and bring the great white death. - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE HUMMING-BIRD AND THE FLOWER - - -GOOD morning, pretty flower!” - -“Good morning, little humming-bird!” - -“May I have some honey, please?” - -“Certainly. Here is plenty. Help yourself.” - -“Thank you. It is very good of you. Is there anything that I can do for -you in return?” - -“Well, I hear so little, seeing that I do not go abroad, that I love to -be told things. I wish that you would tell me how you came to have so -beautiful a dress. I have often wondered as I saw you flashing past.” - -“Have you indeed? Well, let me think. I believe I have heard that it was -because of a mouse, that I have it.” - -“A mouse? How can that be, busy little Colibrí? A mouse, you know, is -dull and gray.” - -“Then, Florecilla, if it was not a mouse, it was mud.” - -“My dear humming-bird, you _must_ be wrong. You know as well as I do -that mud is dull and gray. Won’t you stop your humming a moment and -think?” - -“Ah, now I know. It was because of a panther.” - -“Dear, dear Colibrí, that is worse still. A panther, did you say? I must -have heard wrong.” - -“Isn’t that right, either? Well, it must have been all three—the mouse, -the mud, and the panther. So there now. . . . But how sweet this honey -is.” - -“Indeed, I am glad that you find it so. But please tell me about your -pretty dress.” - -“Oh, yes. I forgot, thinking of the honey. One has so much to think of. -I remember now, perfectly well. It was Paloma the dove who told me all -about it yesterday, but a day and a night is a very, very long time to -remember a long tale.” - -“Then tell me before you forget.” - -“Well, once all humming-birds were gray.” - -“So I have heard.” - -“Well, a big panther was going through the woods very quietly, and he -stepped on a mouse-nest and happened to kill all the baby mice.” - -“Dear me. I am so sorry to hear that.” - -“So when the mother mouse came to her home and saw what had happened she -was very much annoyed, saying that the panther was too big and too -clumsy and did not look where he was going.” - -“Well, Colibrí, she would be annoyed. You know I have often thought how -nice it would be if mice and panthers and all creatures did not move -about as they do. They run about so and they jump and skip, and it is no -wonder that things happen. Suppose trees and flowers and bushes were as -restless as animals. Think how it would be with great trees treading on -little flowers, and thorn-bushes running about and tearing down the -gentle flores del aire and scratching the tender skins of the grapes. -Now if _I_ were queen, I would make a law so that all those forest -creatures that run on four legs should just stand and grow as we do, -and——” - -“Please do not interrupt or I may forget the tale.” - -“Oh, I beg your pardon. Go on, please.” - -“Well, of course the panther told the mother mouse how it had happened -and said that he was sorry and that he would be more careful, but she -scolded him and kept it in her heart to punish him.” - -“But, little Colibrí, if he said that he was sorry, and if it could not -be helped, then it seems to me——” - -“Really, little flower, you _must_ listen. You have no idea how -difficult it is to tell a tale. So please do not interrupt. One day when -the panther was asleep the mouse crept up with some gum which she had -taken from the tree and sealed up the panther’s eyes. Then she took mud -from the laguna and plastered it over the gum, and then more gum and -more mud, so that the panther could not tell day from night.” - -“Dear me. That was very unkind and very dreadful. I am as sorry for the -panther as I am for the mother mouse.” - -“Well, anyway, that proves that it was a mouse and a panther and mud, -just as I said.” - -“But, dear humming-bird, how about the dress of many colours?” - -“I am coming to that, but you interrupt so. The panther roared and -roared and roared, until the very softest of his roars shook the -esteros, and the alligators were frightened and dived to the bottom of -the water. Hearing all that noise, a humming-bird asked the panther what -the noise was all about.” - -“That was very good of the humming-bird. And what did the panther say?” - -“He told the humming-bird all about it and asked him to kill the mouse. -But that the humming-bird would not do.” - -“Of course not. _I_ never killed a mouse.” - -“So then the panther said that if the humming-bird would take away the -gum and the mud so that he could see again, he would do anything that he -could in return. You see, little flower, the panther is wise because he -travels so much and all things that travel know a great deal.” - -“I am not so sure of that, Colibrí. All this summer I have travelled up -this tree and so have gone a great distance, but I know very little.” - -“That is different. No one wants a flower to be wise. To be beautiful is -enough.” - -“Oh!” - -“But please listen and do not talk so much.” - -“I am very sorry that I interrupted you, little humming-bird.” - -“Well, the humming-bird told the panther that she wished to have a -beautiful dress, as beautiful as the dress of the sun bird, and asked -him to tell her where she could get bright colours. Then before the -panther answered, she asked him to tell her how the lianas got the red -and yellow and purple for their blossoms.” - -“This is the most interesting thing I have ever heard and I hope the -tale will not be short. Did the panther know?” - -“Of course he knew. He told her that the flowers got their colour from -the earth and he also told her where there was clay of many colours and -where there were gold and silver and rubies. So the humming-bird picked -and picked until the panther’s eyes were unsealed and the big fellow -gave a roar of gladness. All that day panther and humming-bird worked, -bringing coloured clay and coloured sands, and silver and gold, and -rubies and opals, and the blue and crimson of sunset and the silver of -the moon and the stars, and the tender green of shady forests and the -blackness of ebony. Out of all these the humming-bird dressed herself, -and for misty-moving wings she took the spun silk of the spider and the -soft thread of the sumaha. And that is how the humming-bird got her -dress. There now.” - -“I am glad to know that, dear humming-bird, and I thank you for telling -me.” - -“And I, dear flower, thank you for the honey.” - -“Good-bye, then, if you must go.” - -“Good-bye, Florecilla. . . _=B-z-z-z-z. H-m-m-m-m-m—mmmmmm.=_” - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE MAGIC BALL - - - (A Tale of the Chuput Country) - -A COLD-EYED witch lived in the Cordilleras and when the first snow -commenced to fall she was always full of glee, standing on a rock, -screaming like a wind-gale and rubbing her hands. For it pleased her to -see the winter moon, the green country blotted out, the valleys white, -the trees snow-laden, and the waters ice-bound and black. Winter was her -hunting time and her eating time, and in the summer she slept. So she -was full of a kind of savage joy when there were leaden clouds and -drifting gales, and she waited and watched, waited and watched, ever -ready to spring upon frost-stiffened creatures, that went wandering down -to the warmer lowlands. - -This witch was a wrinkled creature, hard of eye, thin-lipped, with hands -that looked like roots of trees, and so tough was her skin that knife -could not cut nor arrow pierce it. In the country that swept down to the -sea she was greatly feared, and hated, too. The hate came because by -some strange magic she was able to draw children to her one by one, and -how she did it no man knew. But the truth is that she had a magic ball, -a ball bright and shining and of many colours, and this she left in -places where children played, but never where man or woman could see it. - -One day, near the lake called Oretta, a brother and sister were at play -and saw the magic ball at the foot of a little hill. Pleased with its -brightness and beauty Natalia ran to it, intending to pick it up and -take it home, but, to her surprise, as she drew near to it the ball -rolled away; then, a little way off, came to rest again. Again she ran -to it and almost had her hand on it when it escaped, exactly as a piece -of thistle-down does, just as she was about to grasp it. So she followed -it, always seeming to be on the point of catching it but never doing so, -and as she ran her brother Luis followed, careful lest she should come -to harm. The strange part of it was that every time the ball stopped it -rested close to some berry bush or by the edge of a crystal-clear -spring, so that she, like all who were thus led away, always found at -the moment of resting something to eat or to drink or to refresh -herself. Nor, strangely enough, did she tire, but because of the magic -went skipping and running and jumping just as long as she followed the -ball. Nor did any one under the spell of that magic note the passing of -time, for days were like hours and a night like the shadow of a swiftly -flying cloud. - -At last, chasing the ball, Natalia and Luis came to a place in the -valley where the Rio Chico runs between great hills, and it was dark and -gloomy and swept by heavy gray clouds. The land was strewn with mighty -broken rocks and here and there were patches of snow, and soon great -snow flakes appeared in the air. Then boy and girl were terror-struck, -for they knew with all the wandering and twisting and turning they had -lost their way. But the ball still rolled on, though slower now, and the -children followed. But the air grew keener and colder and the sun -weaker, so that they were very glad indeed when they came to a black -rock where, at last, the ball stopped. - -Natalia picked it up, and for a moment gazed at its beauty, but for a -moment only. For no sooner had she gazed at it and opened her lips to -speak than it vanished as a soap bubble does, at which her grief was -great. Luis tried to cheer her and finding that her hands were icy cold -led her to the north side of the rock where it was warmer, and there he -found a niche like a lap between two great arms, and in the moss-grown -cranny Natalia coiled herself up and was asleep in a minute. As for -Luis, knowing that as soon as his sister had rested they must set out -about finding a way home, he sat down intending to watch. But not very -long did he keep his eyes open, for he was weary and sad at heart. He -tried hard to keep awake, even holding his eyelids open with his -fingers, and he stared hard at a sunlit hilltop across the valley, but -even that seemed to make him sleepy. Then, too, there were slowly -nodding pine trees and the whispering of leaves, coming in a faint -murmur from the mountainside. So, soon, Luis slept. - -Natalia, being out of the blustering wind, was very comfortable in the -little niche between the great stone arms, and she dreamed that she was -at home. Her mother, she thought, was combing her hair and singing as -she did so. So she forgot her hunger and weariness, and in her -dream-land knew nothing of the bare black rocks and snow-patched hills. -Instead, she seemed to be at home where the warm firelight danced on the -walls and lighted her father’s brown face to a lively red as he mended -his horse gear. She saw her brother, too, with his jet-black hair and -cherry-red lips. But her mother, she thought, grew rough and careless -and pulled her hair, so that she gave a little cry of pain and awoke. -Then in a flash she knew where she was and was chilled to the bone with -the piercing wind that swept down from the mountain top. Worse still, in -front of her stood the old witch of the hills, pointing, pointing, -pointing with knotty forefinger, and there were nails on her hands and -feet that looked like claws. - -Natalia tried to rise, but could not, and her heart was like stone when -she found what had happened. It was this: while she slept, the witch had -stroked and combed her hair, and meanwhile wrought magic, so that the -girl’s hair was grown into the rock so very close that she could not as -much as turn her head. All that she could do was to stretch forth her -arms, and when she saw Luis a little way off she called to him most -piteously. But good Luis made no move. Instead, he stood with arms wide -apart like one who feels a wall in the dark, moving his hands this way -and that. Then Natalia wept, not understanding and little knowing that -the witch had bound Luis with a spell, so that there seemed to be an -invisible wall around the rock through which he could not pass, try as -he would. But he heard the witch singing in her high and cracked voice, -and this is what she sang: - - “Valley all pebble-sown, - Valley where wild winds moan! - Come, mortals, come. - - “Valley so cool and white, - Valley of winter night, - Come, children, come. - - “Straight like a shaft to mark, - Come they to cold and dark, - Children of men!” - -Then she ceased and stood with her root-like finger up-raised, and from -near by came the voice of a great white owl, which took up the song, -saying: - - “Things of the dark and things without name, - Save us from light and the torch’s red flame.” - -Now all this was by starlight, but the moment the owl had ceased, from -over the hill came a glint of light as the pale moon rose, and with a -sound like a thunderclap the witch melted into the great rock and the -owl flapped away heavily. - -“Brother,” whispered the girl, “you heard what the owl said?” - -“Yes, sister, I heard,” he answered. - -“Brother, come to me. I am afraid,” said Natalia, and commenced to cry a -little. - -“Sister,” he said, “I try but I cannot. There is something through which -I cannot pass. I can see but I cannot press through.” - -“Can you not climb over, dear Luis?” asked Natalia. - -“No, Natalia. I have reached high as I can, but the wall that I cannot -see goes up and up.” - -“Is there no way to get in on the other side of the rock, dear, dear -Luis? I am very cold and afraid, being here alone.” - -“Sister, I have walked around. I have felt high and low. But it is -always the same. I cannot get through, I cannot climb over, I cannot -crawl under. But I shall stay here with you, so fear not.” - -At that Natalia put her hands to her face and wept a little, but very -quietly, and it pained Luis to see the tears roll down her cheeks and -turn to little ice pearls as they fell. After a while Natalia spoke -again, but through sobs. - -“Brother mine, you heard what the owl said?” - -“Yes, sister.” - -“Does it mean nothing to you?” she asked. - -“Nothing,” he replied. - -“But listen,” said Natalia. “These were the words: ‘Save us from light -and the torch’s red flame.’” - -“I heard that, Natalia. What does it mean?” - -“It means, brother, that the things in this horrible valley fear fire. -So go, brother. Leave me a while but find fire, coming back with it -swiftly. There will be sickening loneliness, so haste, haste.” - -Hearing that, Luis was sad, for he was in no mood to leave his sister in -that plight. Still she urged him, saying: “Speed, brother, speed.” - -Even then he hesitated, until with a great swoop there passed over the -rock a condor wheeling low, and it said as it passed: “Fire will conquer -frosted death.” - -“You hear, brother,” said Natalia. “So speed and find fire and return -before night.” - -Then Luis stayed no longer, but waved his sister a farewell and set off -down the valley, following the condor that hovered in the air, now -darting away and now returning. So Luis knew that the great bird led -him, and he ran, presently finding the river and following it until he -reached the great vega where the waters met. - -At the meeting of the waters he came to a house, a poor thing made of -earth and stones snuggled in a warm fold of the hills. No one was about -there, but as the condor flew high and, circling in the air, became a -small speck, Luis knew that it would be well to stay a while and see -what might befall. Pushing open the door he saw by the ashes in the -fireplace that someone lived there, for there were red embers well -covered to keep the fire alive. So seeing that the owner of the house -would return soon he made himself free of the place, which was the way -of that country, and brought fresh water from the spring. Then he -gathered wood and piled it neatly by the fireside. Next he blew upon the -embers and added twigs and sticks until a bright fire glowed, after -which he took the broom of twigs and swept the earth floor clean. - -How the man of the house came into the room Luis never knew, but there -he was, sitting by the fire on a stool. He looked at things but said -nothing to Luis, only nodding his head. Then he brought bread and yerba -and offered some to Luis. After they had eaten the old man spoke, and -this is what he said: - -“Wicked is the white witch, and there is but one way to defeat her. -What, lad, is the manner of her defeat? Tell me that.” - -Then Luis, remembering what the condor had said, repeated the words: -“‘Fire will conquer frosted death.’” - -“True,” said the man slowly, nodding his head. “And your sister is -there. Now here comes our friend the condor, who sees far and knows -much.” - - “Now with cold grows faint her breath, - Fire will conquer frosted death.” - -Having said that the great bird wheeled up sharply. - -But no sooner was it out of sight than a turkey came running and stood a -moment, gobbling. To it the old man gave a lighted brand, repeating the -words the condor had spoken. - -Off sped the turkey with the blazing stick, running through marsh and -swamp in a straight line, and Luis and the old man watched. Soon the -bird came to a shallow lagoon, yet made no halt. Straight through the -water it sped, and so swiftly that the spray dashed up on either side. -High the turkey held the stick, but not high enough, for the splashing -water quenched the fire, and seeing that, the bird returned, dropping -the blackened stick at the old man’s feet. - -“Give me another, for the maiden is quivering cold,” said the turkey. -“This time I will run round the lake.” - -“No. No,” answered the man. “You must know that when the water spirit -kisses the fire king, the fire king dies. So, that you may remember, -from now and for ever you will carry on your feathers the marks of -rippling water.” - -Down again swooped the condor and a little behind him came a goose, -flying heavily. As before, the condor cried: - - “Now with cold grows faint her breath, - Fire will conquer frosted death.” - -then flew away again toward the witch mountain. - -To the goose the old man gave a blazing stick and at once the brave bird -set off, flying straight in the direction the condor had taken. Over -vega and over lagoon she went, pausing only at a snowclad hilltop, -because the stick had burned close to her beak. So she dropped it in the -snow to get a better hold, and when she picked it up again there was but -a charred thing. Sad enough the goose returned to the house, bearing the -blackened stick, and begged to be given another chance. - -“No. No,” said the old man. “The silver snow queen’s kiss is death to -the fire king. That is something you must remember. From now on and for -ever you must carry feathers of gray like the ashes. But here comes the -condor and we must hear his message.” - -Sadly then the goose went away, her feathers ash gray, and the condor -wheeled low again, calling: - - “Fainter grows the maiden’s breath, - Night must bring the frosted death,” - -and having said, like an arrow he shot off. - -No sooner had he gone than the long-legged, long-billed flamingo dropped -to the ground. - -“Your beak is long,” said the old man, “but fly swiftly, for the stick -is short.” - -The flamingo took the burning stick by the end and made straight for the -mountain, racing with all possible speed. As for Luis, he made up his -mind to tarry no longer and set off, running like a deer. But an -ostrich, seeing him, spread her wings like sails and ran by his side. On -her back Luis placed his hand, and with that help sped as fast as the -flamingo. In the air the flamingo went like an arrow, resting not, -although the blazing fire burned her neck and breast until it became -pink and red. But that she heeded not. Straight up the valley and to the -rock where Natalia was bound went she, and into a heap of dried moss on -the south side of the rock she dropped the blazing stick. Up leaped the -dancing flames, and with a tremendous noise the rock flew into a -thousand pieces and the power of the witch was gone for ever. As for -Natalia, she was at once freed, and with her gentle, cool hand stroked -the breast of the flamingo so that the burns were healed, but as a sign -of its bravery the bird has carried a crimson breast from that day to -this. As for Natalia and Luis, they lived for many, many years in the -valley, and about them birds of many kinds played and lived and reared -their young, and the magic ball of the witch lived only in the memory of -men. - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - EL ENANO - - -EVERYONE disliked El Enano who lived in the forest, because he always -lay hidden in dark places, and when woodmen passed he jumped out on them -and beat them and took their dinners from them. He was a squat creature, -yellow of skin and snag-toothed and his legs were crooked, his arms were -crooked, and his face was crooked. There were times when he went about -on all fours and then he looked like a great spider, for he had scraggy -whiskers that hung to the ground and looked like legs. At other times he -had the mood to make himself very small like a little child, and then he -was most horrible to see, for his skin was wrinkled and his whiskers -hung about him like a ragged garment. - -Yet all of that the people might have forgiven and he might have been -put up with, were it not for some worse tricks. What was most disliked -was his trick of walking softly about a house in the night-time while -the people were inside, suspecting nothing, perhaps singing and talking. -Seeing them thus, El Enano would hide in the shadows until someone went -for water to the spring, then out he would leap, clinging fast to the -hair of the boy or man and beating, biting, scratching the while. Being -released, the tortured one would of course run to reach the house, but -El Enano would hop on one leg behind, terribly fast, and catch his -victim again just as a hand was almost laid on the door latch. Nor could -an alarm be raised, because El Enano cast a spell of silence, so that, -try as one would, neither word nor shout would come. - -Then there was his other evil trick of hiding close to the ground and -reaching out a long and elastic arm to catch boy or girl by the ankle. -But that was not worse than his habit of making a noise like hail or -rain, hearing which the people in the house would get up to close a -window, and there, looking at them from the dark but quite close to -their faces, would be the grinning Enano holding in his hands his -whiskers that looked like a frightening curtain, his eyes red and -shining like rubies. That was very unpleasant indeed, especially when a -person was alone in the house. Nor was it much better when he left the -window, for he would hop and skip about the house yard for hours, -screaming and howling and throwing sticks and stones. So, wherever he -was there was chill horror. - -One day, a good old woman who lived alone went with her basket to gather -berries. El Enano saw her and at once made himself into a little -creature no larger than a baby and stretched himself on a bed of bright -moss between two trees leafless and ugly. He pretended to be asleep, -though he whimpered a little as a child does when it has a bad dream. - -The good old woman was short-sighted but her ears were quick, and -hearing the soft whimper she found the creature and took it in her arms. -To do that bent her sadly, for Enano when small was the same weight as -when his full size. - -“Oh, poor thing,” she said. “Someone has lost a baby. Or perhaps some -wild creature has carried the tender thing from its home. So, lest it -perish I will take care of it, though to be sure, a heavier baby I never -held.” - -The dame had no children of her own and, though poor, was both willing -and glad to share what she had with any needy creature. Gently she took -it home and having put dry sticks on the fire she made a bed of light -twigs which she covered with a mat of feathers. Then she bustled about, -getting bread and milk for supper for the little one, feeling happy at -heart because she had rescued the unhappy creature from the dismal -forest. - -At first she was glad to see the appetite of the homeless thing, for it -soon finished the bread and milk and cried for more. - -“Bless me! It must be half starved,” she said. “It may have my supper.” -So she took the food she had set out for herself and El Enano swallowed -it as quickly as he had swallowed the first bowl. Yet still he cried for -more. Off then to the neighbours she went, borrowing milk from this one, -bread from that, rice from another, until half the children of the -village had to go on short commons that night. The creature devoured all -that was brought and still yelled for more and the noise it made was -ear-splitting. But as it ate and felt the warmth, it grew and grew. - -“Santa Maria!” said the dame. “What wonderful thing is this? Already it -is no longer a baby, but a grown child. Almost it might be called ugly, -but that, I suppose, is because it was motherless and lost. It is all -very sad.” Then, because she had thought it ugly she did the more for -it, being sorry for her thoughts, though she could not help nor hinder -them. As for the creature itself, having eaten all in the house, it gave -a grunt or two, turned heavily on its side and went to sleep, snoring -terribly. - -Next morning matters were worse, for El Enano was stretched out on the -floor-before the fire, his full size, and seeing the dame he called for -food, making so great a noise that the very windows shook and his cries -were heard all over the village. So to still him, and there being -nothing to eat in the house, the good old woman went out and told her -tale to the neighbours, asking their help and advice, and to her house -they all went flocking to look at the strange creature. One man, a -stout-hearted fellow, told El Enano that it was high time for him to be -going, hearing which, the ugly thing shrieked with wicked laughter. - -“Well, bring me food,” it said, looking at the man with red eyes. “Bring -me food, I say, and when I have eaten enough I may leave you. But bring -me no child’s food, but rather food for six and twenty men. Bring an -armadillo roasted and a pig and a large goose and many eggs and the milk -of twenty cows. Nor be slow about it, for I must amuse myself while I -wait and it may well be that you will not care for the manner of my -amusement.” - -Indeed, there was small likelihood of any one there doing that, for his -amusement was in breaking things about the house, the tables and -benches, the pots and the ollas, and when he had made sad havoc of the -woman’s house he started on the house next door, smashing doors and -windows, tearing up flowers by the roots, chasing the milk goats and the -chickens, and setting dogs to fight. Nor did he cease in his mischief -until the meal was set out for him, when he leaped upon it and crammed -it down his throat with fearful haste, leaving neither bone nor crumb. - -The people of the village stood watching, whispering one to another -behind their hands, how they were shocked at all that sight, and when at -last the meal was finished, the stout-hearted man who had spoken before -stepped forward. “Now sir!” said he to El Enano, “seeing that you have -eaten enough and more than enough, you will keep your word, going about -your business and leaving this poor woman and us in peace. Will you?” - -“No. _No._ NO!” roared El Enano, each No being louder than the one -before it. - -“But you promised,” said the man. - -What the creature said when answering that made nearly everyone there -faint with horror. It said: - -“What I promised was that I would leave when I had eaten enough. I did -not——” - -The bold man interrupted then, saying, “Well, you have eaten enough.” - -“Ah yes, for one meal,” answered the cruel Enano. “But I meant that I -would leave when I have eaten enough for always. There is to-morrow and -to-morrow night. There is the day after that and the next day and the -next day. There are to be weeks of eating and months of eating and years -of eating. You are stupid people if you think that I shall ever have -eaten enough. So I shall not leave. No. _No._ NO!” - -Having said that, the creature laughed in great glee and began to throw -such things as he could reach against the walls, and so, many good -things were shattered. - -Now for three days that kind of thing went on, at the end of which time -the men of the place were at their wits’ ends to know what to do, for -almost everything eatable in the village had gone down the creature’s -throat. Sad at heart, seeing what had come to pass, the good old woman -went out and sat down to weep by the side of a quiet pool, for it seemed -to her to be a hard thing that what she had done in kindness had ended -thus, and that the house she had built and loved and kept clean and -sweet should be so sadly wrecked and ruined. Her thoughts were broken by -the sound of a voice, and turning she saw a silver-gray fox sitting on a -rock and looking at her. - -“It is well enough to have a good cry,” he said, “but it is better to be -gay and have a good laugh.” - -“Ah! Good evening, Señor Zorro,” answered the dame, drying her tears. -“But who can be gay when a horrible creature is eating everything? Who -can be otherwise than sad, seeing the trouble brought on friends?” The -last she added, being one of those who are always saddened by the -cheerlessness of others. - -“You need not tell me,” said the fox. “I know everything that has -passed,” and he put his head a little sideways like a wise young dog and -seemed to smile. - -“But what is there to do?” asked the dame. “I am in serious case indeed. -This alocado says that he will make no stir until he has had enough to -eat for all his life, and certainly he makes no stir to go away.” - -“The trouble is that you give him enough and not too much,” said the -fox. - -“Too much, you say? We have given him too much already, seeing that we -have given him all that we have,” said the old dame a little angrily. - -“Well, what you must do is to give him something that he does not like. -Then he will go away,” said the fox. - -“Easier said than done,” answered the old woman with spirit. “Did we but -give him something of which he liked not the taste, then he would eat -ten times more to take the bad taste away. Señor Zorro, with all your -cleverness, you are but a poor adviser.” - -After that the fox thought a long while before saying anything, then -coming close to the old woman and looking up into her face he said: - -“Make your mind easy. He shall have enough to eat this very night and -all that you have to do is to see that your neighbours do as I say, nor -be full of doubt should I do anything that seems to be contrary.” - -So the good old woman promised to warn her neighbours, knowing well the -wisdom of the fox, and together they went to her house, where they found -El Enano stretched out on the floor, looking like a great pig, and every -minute he gave a great roar. The neighbours were both angry and afraid, -for the creature had been very destructive that day. Indeed, he had -taken delight in stripping the thatched roofs and had desisted only when -the men of the place had promised to double the amount of his meal. - -Not five minutes had the fox and the dame been in the house when the men -of the place came in with things—with berries and armadillos, eggs and -partridges, turkeys and bread and much fish from the lake. At once they -set about cooking, while the women commenced to brew a great bowl of -knot-grass tea. Soon the food was cooked and El Enano fell to as -greedily as ever. - -The fox looked at Enano for a while, then said: - -“You have a fine appetite, my friend. What will there be for the men and -the women and the children and for me to eat?” - -“You may have what I leave, and eat it when I end,” said El Enano. - -“Let us hope then that our appetites will be light,” said the fox. - -A little later the fox began to act horribly, jumping about the room and -whining, and calling the people lazy and inhospitable. - -“Think you,” he said, “that this is the way to treat a visitor? A pretty -thing indeed to serve one and let the other go hungry. Do I get nothing -at all to eat? Quick. Bring me potatoes and roast them, or it will be -bad for all of you. The mischief I do shall be ten times worse than any -done already.” - -Knowing that some plan was afoot the people ran out of the house and -soon came back with potatoes, and the fox showed them how he wanted them -roasted on the hearth. So they were placed in the ashes and covered with -hot coals and when they were well done the fox told everyone to take a -potato, saying that El Enano, who was crunching the bones of the animals -he had eaten, would not like them. But all the while the men were -eating, the fox ran from one to another whispering things, but quite -loud enough for Enano to hear. “Hush!” said he. “Say nothing. El Enano -must not know how good they are and when he asks for some, tell him that -they are all gone.” - -“Yes. Yes,” said the people, keeping in with the plan. “Do not let Enano -know.” - -By this time El Enano was suspicious and looked from one man to another. -“Give me all the potatoes,” he said. - -“They are all eaten except mine,” said the fox, “but you may taste -that.” So saying he thrust the roasted potato into the hands of Enano -and the creature crammed it down its throat at once. - -“Ha! It is good,” he roared. “Give me more. More. MORE.” - -“We have no more,” said the fox very loud, then, quite softly to those -who stood near him, he added, “Say nothing about the potatoes on the -hearth,” but loudly enough for El Enano to hear, though quite well he -knew that there were none. - -“Ah! I heard you,” roared El Enano. “There are potatoes on the hearth. -Give them to me.” - -“We must let him have them,” said the fox, raking the red-hot coals to -the front. - -“Out of the way,” cried El Enano, reaching over the fox and scooping up -a double handful of hot coals, believing them to be potatoes. Red hot as -they were he swallowed them and in another moment was rolling on the -floor, howling with pain as the fire blazed in his stomach. Up he leaped -again and dashed out of the house to fling himself by the side of the -little river. The water was cool to his face and he drank deep, but the -water in his stomach turned to steam, so that he swelled and swelled, -and presently there was a loud explosion that shook the very hills, and -El Enano burst into a thousand pieces. - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE HERO TWINS - - -THERE was once a woman who had two sons and they were twins, so much -alike that the mother herself could not tell one from the other. So -Hunapu always wore a crimson feather and Balanque a blue one. - -As children they spent their days in the open air, playing in the -forest, swimming in the lake, and wandering on the plains, and so doing -they came to know the animals and the birds, finding the young ones and -playing with them, so that it was no uncommon sight to see them come -home with a panther following at their heels as a dog does. They knew -where to find the nests of birds of all kinds, fed the young ones, and -petted them, until with a call they could bring from the trees clouds of -glorious-coloured birds which would perch on their hands and arms and -shoulders. And of course it came about in time that when animals and -birds gathered about the lads, there was no more fighting between the -wild creatures than there is between a puppy and a kitten that have been -raised together. - -Growing up with the wild creatures, wrestling with them and racing with -them, the boys grew strong and fleet of foot. They could scale a cliff -to reach a condor’s nest or climb a tree as swiftly as a monkey, and in -the water they were as much at home as on the land. Down into the clear -depths they would dive, down in the cool, green lake waters, to bring up -shells and bright stones, one boy striving with the other, laughing -merrily the while. And sitting on the shore in the sunshine they would -often look across the lake to the faraway mountain, talking about the -time when they would adventure there to see what could be seen. - -Their father taught them to shoot straight with the arrow and to use -well the spear, and when they were masters of these he made for them -breastplates of silver and light helmets that flashed in the sun. And as -time went on they wandered here and there, finding other boys of their -own age, and these, too, had helmets and breastplates of silver made for -them by their fathers and had learned the use of the bow and spear, -until at last there was a band of four hundred of which Hunapu and -Balanque were leaders. Then there were great times with running and -racing and swimming and wrestling, and soon the Four Hundred had agreed -that when one of their number was in trouble not of his own seeking, at -the sound of the horn the rest would come to his rescue. But not all the -time was spent in play, for the band of the Four Hundred were wise in -all the arts, playing the flute, working in metals, painting, woodcraft, -and other like activities. - -One day Hunapu and Balanque were in the forest gathering fruit, when -there came to them an old man and wife, weeping sadly. They were -strangers to the place and, seeing the two lads in their armour of -silver, with bows in their hands and swords by their sides and feathers -of crimson and of blue in their glittering helmets, they stood for a -while silent. But being asked, they told their tale of how they had -lived in the mountain on the other side of the lake among a people who -were in terror of their lives because of three great and fearful giants -who came now and then, taking the cattle and the goats, destroying for -mere mischief the houses of the people, and sometimes killing the people -themselves. Nothing, they said, could withstand the strength of the -giants. Stone walls were as mere sticks to them. They uprooted trees or -turned the courses of rivers by scooping away masses of earth with their -hands. - -Hearing that, the twin brothers were greatly disturbed, for as they had -sat by the lake sometimes, talking of the land far away, they had heard -strange noises faintly come over the waters, which they had set down as -summer thunders. With the tale of the old man and his wife, they began -to believe that things were more serious than they had supposed. -Stepping to a place clear of trees Hunapu put his horn to his lips and -blew long and loudly, three times. Soon from all directions came lads -running, each girt with his sword, his spear in hand and his bow at his -back, breast-plate and helmet glittering in the bright sun. You can -figure for yourself that fine band of clean, straight-limbed fellows, -each with his drawn sword and silver helmet with drooping plume. You can -imagine how they looked standing there with the cool, green forest -behind them. And there were not only the Four Hundred, but also their -friends of the forest, here a puma, there a panther or deer, -bright-coloured birds, glorious humming-birds and proud llamas, for not -a boy but had his wild creature for a pet. - -To the band of the Four Hundred the old man and his wife told their -tale, mentioning what they had not done before, that their sons and -daughters had been carried off by two of the giants. At that there -stepped from the ranks a lad with flashing eyes who said that not a year -should pass over their heads before the giants were overcome, and a -great shout of joy went up. Then and there the lad who had spoke cried: - -“Let everyone step forward who will go to the land of the evil three,” -and no sooner were the words out of his lips than the whole Four Hundred -stepped forward. But, as Flashing Eyes said, some must stay at home, for -there were things to be done, so he proposed that twenty alone should -go. Even then there was no way to decide which of them should be of the -twenty, for everyone wanted to go forward to the adventure. At that -Balanque offered to go alone to the land, to see what would be the best -plan to pursue, but again there was trouble, for each of the Four -Hundred wanted to go with him. So at last it was decided to leave the -matter to be settled by chance. Each one was to call to his pet wild -creature, and the first two touched would go to the land of the giants. -Then a great calling went up, a naming of names, a whistling, and a -making of noises like the call of animals, and from the leafy caves came -the pets, running, leaping, flying. Each lad there had hung his sword -and bow on a branch and stood with arms outstretched to welcome his pet, -and there was much laughter and good spirit. Down from the sky came -sweeping a hawk, straight as an arrow, and it lit on the shoulder of -Balanque. At the very same moment a llama thrust its nose into the neck -of Hunapu, and that only a second before a fleet deer had leaped to the -side of Flashing Eyes. So all there knew that the twin brothers were -chosen to go into the land and there was no more arguing about it. That -night the band slept under the brilliant stars and the next morning -there went up a great shout as at sunrise the brothers set off, every -one of the Four Hundred knocking his sword on his shield by way of -salute. From the top of a ridge the twins waved their band a farewell, -then they turned and a moment later were lost to view, and the members -of the band went each about his own affairs, ready to come at a call. - -All that day and the next they travelled, and on the morning of the -third day they came to a place where were great black rocks, and hills -all treeless and bare, and near the noon hour they saw a great cave in -the mountainside, the floor of which was strewn with bones of animals, -some of the bones indeed being great things as big as a man, from a -creature of which the boys had never seen the like. These bones had been -cracked for the marrow in them and the teeth marks told their tale of -the size of the giant who had eaten them. - -To a top of the mountain the boys climbed, and when they had gained the -summit, there at their feet was a great hollow place and at the other -end sat a monstrous fellow, his hands on his knees, his body swaying to -and fro. He was rumbling and grumbling and peering here and there in a -queer way. The boys noticed that he did not turn his head to look with a -sweep of the eyes as they did, or as you do, turning to see in a -semi-circle or over a greater extent. His way was different. He would -turn his head in a certain direction with his eyes closed, then open -them and look. From the place where his glance lit he could not turn. If -he wanted to look somewhere else, he had to close his eyes and begin -again, so that his looking was more like shooting a bullet at a mark -than anything, and if he missed, he missed, and had to begin again. And -of course he often missed. Yet it was his way, and he must have been -very satisfied with it to judge by the song he sang, which was this: - - “My name is Cakix, - Yukub—Cakix. - My eyes are bright as silver, - They gleam like precious stones. - My name is Cakix, - Yukub—Cakix. - Cakix! - Cakix!” - -Over and over again he sang that. Then, with a tremendous roar, he -shouted: - - “I am Cakix, - Yukub—Cakix, - And all men fear me!” - -Then the twins, hearing that idle boast, stood on the hilltop and -shouted: - -“Catch us, Cakix, if you can. We come to make an end of you.” - -For a moment the giant sat still in sheer astonishment, his eyes closed, -his ear cupped in his hand to catch the direction of the sound. The boys -saw his great face turn in their direction, and they skipped to the -right and left so as to be out of his sight, and well it was that they -did so, for out over the valley shot his arm, lengthening like elastic, -and his great fingers reached over the rock where the twins had stood, -and went feeling like five blind snakes. Finding nothing, the hand -picked up the rock, though it was as large as a house, and back went the -arm getting shorter, until the giant had the rock under his nose. Then -he shut his eyes, turned his face down, opened his eyes again, and -examined the rock. Finding nothing he cast it away with a sudden jerk, -much as you jerk off some insect that drops on your hand unexpectedly. -Cakix sat awhile, then rose to his feet and strode straight down the -valley to where the boys had been, looking straight ahead, of course. He -went to a tree a little way off, plucked some fruit which looked like -wild cherries, though each was as large as a pumpkin, and blundered off -without seeing the boys who crouched low and out of his sight. - -As soon as the giant had gone the twins ran down into the valley and -there they saw, in great caves in the hills to the right and left, -hidden heaps of flashing, precious stones—diamonds, emeralds, rubies, -opals—dazzling in the sunshine. In other holes were heaped gold dust -and silver. While looking they were startled to hear a new roaring, this -time from the hill to which Cakix had gone. Soon the roar formed into -words and they heard: - - “I am Cabrakan, - Cabrakan who shakes the earth, - Cabrakan who shakes the sky. - I am Cabrakan, - Master of men.” - -It was another giant, but him they did not see. Scrambling out of the -valley they reached the hilltop to see Cakix coming back to his valley. -He stopped at the tree where he had stopped before and took some more -fruit, then strode down the hill, marking time as he walked with his: - - “I am Ca-kix - Yu-kub—Ca-kix - All men fear me.” - -He sat down in his old seat, his hands again on his knees, his body -swaying. He seemed uncomfortable and restless, much as if he expected -danger, getting to his feet every now and then, peering about, going to -his tree to eat fruit and returning again to his seat. In fact, about -every hour he went to his fruit tree. - -Seeing that, the lads had an idea, and running to the fruit tree, -climbed into it, hiding themselves in the thick branches, but no sooner -were they safely there than they heard the monster coming. - -In a very short while they felt the tree shake with the giant’s heavy -tread, for he was on his way to take another meal. Then in less time -than it takes to count six he was at the tree, his great blue face -hiding the scenery. Quick as lightning, Hunapu fitted an arrow to his -bow, drew the string to his bow, and let fly. The shaft struck the ugly -fellow in the chin, but so tough was his skin that the barb only pierced -to his jaw. Still, the pain of it was enough to send him away roaring. -Back he went to his valley and threw himself down, groaning and weeping. -There was no loud song from him now. - -The boys descended from their tree and marched down to where Cakix lay, -taking good care to keep out of the way of his great kicking feet. - -“Who are you?” asked the giant when he saw them. “And what do you want -here?” - -“We are doctors,” they answered. “Hearing your roar of pain, we came to -help. It is your teeth that need attention. Let us take out your bad -teeth and you will be at ease.” - -“But my teeth are my strength,” said the giant. “Men do not know it,” he -added with the lack of suspicion of all giants. - -“True,” answered the twins. “We will pull out the old teeth and put new -ones in their place.” - -The giant opened his mouth and to work they went with hammers and bars -of iron, and in a short time had his teeth all out. True to their -promise they put new teeth in place of the old, but the new teeth they -fitted were made of grains of corn, and as soon as Cakix tried to eat -with them he found out his error. So in a short while he died from -starvation, and the earth was rid of one of the monsters. - -There was great joy among the band of Four Hundred when the hero -brothers returned and told their story, for they were glad of the good -fortune of the twins and full of rejoicing that the world had one -monster the less in it. And after a week of resting, there came a day -when the whole band, bright in their polished armour and gay with -feathers and flowers, set off for the Stone Mountain to bring back the -treasures and to slay the remaining giants. But the tale is so long and -so interesting, that it must be left for another chapter. - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE FOUR HUNDRED - - -SINGING and waving banners, the four hundred youths with the twin -brothers at their head, all of them slim and well formed, brown of skin -and straight of limb, marched forth to the land of the giants, their -eyes bent on the far mountains all wrapped in a blue, floating mist. No -faint hearts were there, nor among them were bullies or cowards. Not one -there but could run, leap, shoot straight, and look his friend in the -eye. From shields of silver the sunlight flashed, spearheads were like -points of hard light and each helmet was plumed. Bows were slung across -shoulders and swords were at sides, and sandalled feet marched in step. -No food they bore nor were they otherwise burdened, for well each knew -the way of the forest and the trick of lake and stream; well each knew -the fruit-bearing trees and the bushes that were berry-hung, and at -night their roof was the star-sprinkled sky. - -Straight as an arrow was their course to the west, to the land of vast -rocks, and gullies like axe-clefts in the earth. Straight to the west, -not turning for swift-flowing stream nor yellow marsh; plunging through -forest, climbing mountain, scaling cliff. Straight to the west to the -place where the twin brothers had been before, until they came to the -valley of Cakix and saw his bones already white, picked by carrion -birds. There, too, they saw the caves where were heaps of glittering -diamonds, rubies like fire, emeralds cool green like the caves of the -sea. Gold, too, and silver were there, but no heed gave they to all -that, counting such things but as toys for children, when great things -had to be done. - -Scouting far and wide to hilltop and rocky ridge, going by twos in vast -circles until they met again, they swept the land, seeing sign of -neither Cabrakan nor of the giant Zipacna, and when the band met again -all were prepared to fare farther in their quest. None was for -returning, “for,” said they, “there is an evil thing to put out of the -land and the swifter the foul task is done the better.” - -The second day of their quest they came to a great forest and there they -were set upon by great monkeys that came in hundreds and tens of -hundreds, leaping at them and snarling, baring teeth and fiercely -chattering. For a while it looked of ill omen, but knowing that together -they could meet much the Four Hundred formed a square, so facing north -and east and south and west, a line of lads kneeling with pointing -spears, others behind them with spears over the shoulders of those that -knelt. In vain the apes dashed at them, for not a spear was lowered nor -did heart grow faint. But the air throbbed with the cries of the hairy -things and they came in ever-increasing numbers, striving to break by -sheer weight the spear-bristling square. All that day they came, hurling -themselves against the square until the dead things lay in masses, those -that were wounded screaming in pain and anger as they turned again to -the forest, and when the dropping sun touched the hills and the green -became black, the evil things, finding their work in vain, gave up the -fight and fled snarling. - -So the Four Hundred all unharmed, weary, though light of heart because -of the great fellowship that was shown to be among them, shouldered -their spears, re-slung their bows and marched on, until coming to a -noisy stream they washed themselves and their weapons. Then in the white -moonlight they slept, each with his sword at hand, while some watched, -on guard for that which might threaten. - -When the sky was rose-tinted again they went on their way, making for a -narrow pass like a sword-slash in the mountains, and by noon they had -reached the stony cut. High and bare were the white rocks on either side -and gloomy was the pass, nor of living thing was there sign save a -condor wheeling high. But from the rocks came strange noises, whistlings -and screamings, then of a sudden, like a thunder clap, a mighty roar as -from many voices, and the noise of it echoed and re-echoed from rock to -rock so that the din was deafening, and when they spoke one to another, -mouth went to ear and hands were cupped. Then, when they were well -within the pass, marching over a floor so covered with sharp-pointed -rocks and great round boulders that they had to slacken their pace, -there came from above a great rock which fell ahead of their path so as -to block the way, except for a narrow passage on either side. Looking -up, they saw, crowded on the tops of the high cliffs on every hand, -snag-toothed, evil-eyed fellows who crawled about the rocks as though -they had been lizards, so sure of foot were they. They knew then that -they were in the land of the wild men of the mountain, the crag men, -fellows strong and stark, full of hate and viciousness. - -Of a sudden, from one of the creatures who stood far up in the cleft of -a rock, one whose hair and beard were long and white and tangled, came a -hoarse cry, and lifting high above his head a rock greater than ten -armadillos he cast it downward with great force. Ill would it have been -for any youth struck by it, but so badly and swiftly was it thrown that -it passed over the heads of all, struck the wall on the farther side, -and burst into a hundred pieces. So the youth with the bright eyes -called on his fellows to hold their shields above their heads, edge to -edge and overlapping in such wise as to form a roof, which they did. -Well it was thus, for stones rattled down like hail, some so great that -those on whom they fell were almost borne to earth with the sheer -weight, for the men of the crags were many and strong. Yet the weight -being shared by reason of the jointed shields, all went well, for each -youth’s care was for his fellow. - -In one place the pass ran narrow, and there one of the crag men, a -fellow of great animal strength and swiftness, suddenly leaped down and -bore one of the twin brothers to earth by the violence of his flight -through the air, for the men of the crags leaped from rock to rock like -wildcats. It was Balanque who was thus struck down, but he was on his -feet in an instant, drew his sword hastily, and as the crag man rushed -at him with jaws all foam-flecked and horrible he passed his blade -through the crag man’s chest. But the fellow was like a wild boar, -pressing on regardless of the hurt, so that he ran up onto the hilt, -caught the youth by the waist, and flung him over his shoulder. In a -moment more he would have been on his way up the face of the cliff. As -it was, seeing what had come to pass, the crag men set up a great -yelling and screaming, thinking that victory already lay with their man. -But Bright Eyes was not idle. He fitted an arrow to his bow and let fly, -the shaft passing through the crag man’s neck, so that he stood, as it -were, spitted, and let Balanque fall. Pierced though he was with both -arrow and sword, yet there was life in him and he fled to the rock face -and clambered up, leaving a trail of red wherever he passed, and was -seen no more by any of the band. - -No pause all this while was there in the shower of stones, but, shields -well locked, the band pressed on, foot by foot, each youth stern to win -and proud of his companion, each youth keeping the eye of hope on the -thin, bright strip of blue at the end of the pass where the mountains -would fall away. And there they came at last, toil-worn but -heart-strong, to the plain where the crag men dared not follow, some of -them almost weeping for joy because shoulder to shoulder they had again -fought their way through a great danger and an evil place, where, had -but one failed, all might have been lost. - -There were four hundred and two happy youths that night, though the -place where they slept was bare of grass and trees, and in the morning -they were well rested and strong, for as they had lived well and cleanly -and none having a darkened window in his breast, their sinews were as -steel, and every day was a new life in which to enter with eyes bright -and shining. - -The sun had not far risen; indeed, there seemed but a hand’s breadth -between the lower edge of it and the world’s edge, when a great wonder -appeared before their eyes. It was as if the sun were suddenly blotted -out, for what they had taken to be a low, faintly rising hill in the -east had risen up, stood for a moment like a vast cloud, then passed -swiftly to the south. At the same time there came a roar like thunder -from the cloudlike form, which came near to deafening them. And the roar -formed into words: - - “I am Zipacna whom men cannot slay, - There’s naught that I fear save the watery way.” - -That rolled rumblingly as thunderings between earth and sky, now loud, -now softer, as Zipacna strode from valley to valley. A little later he -came in sight again, but far to the north of where they were, then -vanished from their sight into the cleft of the hills where they had -battled with the crag men. - -Now fearful as was the sight of the giant, yet no fear was in any heart, -so, having made a meal and rested for a season, without more to-do they -set off for the place from which the giant had arisen. It was long -before they got there, but at last they stood on the edge of a long and -narrow cañon at the end of which was a mighty pile of bones, not alone -of animals but also of men, and there were human skulls there and shells -of sea-crabs, and in and among all these crawled venomous serpents. But -most of all were there sea-crab shells. - -While they gazed at this sorrowful sight, there came to them a bent old -woman, sad of face and lined and wrinkled, and her talk was more like -croaking than human speech. Secret and watchful was she in her manner. -To the twin brothers and Bright Eyes, who stood a little apart from the -rest of the band, she spoke, asking them: - -“What do ye here, my fine fellows? And why come ye to this place of evil -and misery?” - -One of the three answered boldly that they came to slay the giant -Zipacna, telling her that he was a thing of evil and that evil things -must be laid low if the world is to be fair. - -“Then,” said she, “ye are doubtless prepared to die, for in times past -many have thought to slay Zipacna, but themselves have been led into -feasting and into pleasure and soft living, and so the memory of the -good that was intended, passed and became less than a dream.” - -Her words they found strange, but she went on to tell them of a land -over the hill where all was fair and where none had to work and where -the sun shone. There seemed but little meaning in her words. - -But they made answer, saying: “We have but one desire, which is to slay -Zipacna for the evil that he has done and must do. As for your land of -fine things, if to live there would make us soft and idle, then must our -eyes be closed to it.” - -Hearing that, the old woman seemed pleased and the shadow of a smile -touched her face. But her manner changed swiftly it seemed, for she shot -a question at them which was this: “You passed the caves of Cakix whose -bones now are white? Give me then of the precious stones that lay in the -caves there,” and so saying, stretched forth her skinny arm, her hand -hollowed to receive gifts. - -“It was not for such toys that we came. We saw but touched not the -precious stones, nor the gold, nor anything that was there. Indeed, to -have done so would but have hampered us in the doing of that which we -set out to do.” Thus Hunapu made reply and the others nodded. - -“And how did ye escape the apes of the forest?” she asked. - -“We stood side by side and met danger.” - -“And the men of the crags, how fared ye with them?” - -Bright Eyes answered quietly: “Each covered himself and his neighbour as -well as he could and so we came out with whole skins.” - -A silence fell then, the three saying nothing because of the woman’s -great age, though her words and questions seemed to lack meaning. What -she said further was a greater riddle still. “It was well done,” she -told them, and nodded slowly. “Now a greater task lies before. It is one -in which each of your band must meet danger separately and to his peril, -if eyes are not lit and feet swift. More than that I cannot tell. But go -onward until the sea is reached and there is a lake of water. Whoso -touches that water is turned to stone, so take heed. But well indeed -will it be if Zipacna is led there. Have ye not heard him sing: - - I am Zipacna whom men cannot slay. - There’s naught that I fear save the watery way? - -Heard ye not that at sunrise?” - -Then she said no more but turned away. Now as she took a step her staff -fell from her unsteady hands and Bright Eyes picked it up and gave it to -her. That seemed to open her lips again, for she told them: - -“Hearken, one and all. Many are there like swine, who live but to eat, -and Zipacna is of that sort. Watch well by the sea shore to the end that -ye see the things that may lead to his destruction.” There was no more. -She passed down the hill and disappeared behind a thorn-bush and at the -moment that she vanished from their sight a white puma leaped out from -the other side, by which they saw that she knew of white witcheries. - -The band lost no time in turning their steps seaward, and although the -day was hot and the place inviting, would not rest in a valley through -which they passed, a place rich in fruits and soft with silk grass. That -evening they came to the sea, and at the foot of a cliff saw a great -lake of water so clear and blue that their eyes could follow, dropping -from rock ledge to rock ledge, down the slope of the side until they saw -the stones and the sand on the bottom. But there were no swaying -water-weeds, nor was there living thing. Another thing they saw which -brought the words of the old woman to their minds, for thrown aside on -the beach were hundreds and thousands of sea-crab shells, from which -they knew that it was the sea-crab that Zipacna loved to eat above all -things. - -Now they also saw that by some chance a great tree had fallen, and one -end of it rested in the water of the lake, and that end had turned to -stone. Another thing they saw, for on the farther side of the lake was a -bed of blue-black clay and the colour of it was the colour of the shell -of a sea-crab. So after some thought and some talk many of the lads went -deftly to work fashioning of the clay a great sea-crab, so great that -the like was never seen. Others dragged to the lake straight tree-trunks -which they laid side by side with the tree already there, and the end of -the stick was turned to stone as soon as it touched the water, the rest -of the tree changing more slowly. All that night they wrought, making -the great crab and setting it on the sloping tree-trunks, so that when -morning broke, that which they had set out to do was finished, and while -it was yet gray dawn they set off for the place where Zipacna dwelt. - -But not all the band went. Here a lad was left, a little way off -another, then another and another, each hiding behind rock or tussock or -thorn-bush or tree. So hid, one by one, fifty, a hundred, two hundred, -until at last there were left Balanque, Hunapu, and Bright Eyes. Then at -the foot of a hill Bright Eyes sat down and Hunapu crouched on the -shoulder of another hill that stood alone. So, the band being all -hidden, it fell out that Balanque alone went to the place where they had -met the old woman. He fell to making a great outcry, calling on Zipacna -to come forth and rattling his sword on his shield merrily. - -“Oh! Coward!” he called. “Come forth and be slain as was your brother -Cakix, whose bones are now scattered and white.” - -In a voice of thunder Zipacna cried: - - “I am Zipacna whom men cannot slay. - There’s naught that I fear but the watery way.” - -Over and over he chanted that, now roaring, now grumbling as grunts a -swine when it would rest. But always Balanque taunted him, calling him a -coward giant, telling him that his days were short, and reminding him of -the fate of Cakix. - -At last the slow blood of the giant was on fire and he rose on his elbow -to look. For a time he saw nothing, being slow of sight and moreover -looking too high, little dreaming that his noisy champion was so small. -When he saw Balanque at last, his hand shot out, but Balanque was swift, -and like the wind fled at top speed to where his brother Hunapu lay. -Down dropped Balanque and up sprang Hunapu, clearing the ground like a -deer, with Zipacna in full chase, the giant little dreaming that he was -following a new man. But Hunapu, fresh and rested, did as his brother -had done and sped to the foot of the hill where Bright Eyes lay. Then -like an arrow went Bright Eyes to the thorn-bush where Huno was, and -Huno in his turn darted to the tree where Chimal rested. So also Chimal -raced, and each of the band did the same when his turn came, the giant -Zipacna following, no more knowing one lad from the other than one ant -can be told from its fellow. And in the rear those who had dropped to -hide gathered again, so that three companions became five, five became -ten, and ten became fifty, while over hill and valley and marsh, through -thorn-thicket and wooded hill, Zipacna rushed, each lad leading him on -his dance, each companion rising from his resting-place, ready and -swift. And so each of that band met danger alone to the end that all -might be safe. - -At last the merry chase led Zipacna to the cliff, and there below him he -saw what he took to be a mighty crab on the tree-trunks, ready to drop -into the water of the lake, and at the sight of it his mouth watered and -his eyes grew large. A touch of his foot sent the crab sliding into the -water, and to save it Zipacna thrust out his hand. But he bent never to -straighten again. Solid and firm was he fixed, the crab a crab of stone, -his hand a hand of stone. Solid and firm was he fixed, a crouching giant -in a crystal lake, where he stands to this day. - -As for the band of Four Hundred, many other valiant deeds did they in -the land, but through all, never was the thread of their fellowship -broken or tangled, and if evil threatened one, then no rest of stay had -the others until all was well again. - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE KILLING OF CABRAKAN - - -CABRAKAN the giant was slain by the twin brothers and the manner of his -killing was thus: - -After the death of Cakix and the turning to stone of Zipacna, Cabrakan -kept close to the stony land, but one day venturing over the mountains -where lived the crag men, he came upon a herd of goats that had wandered -out of the way, and gathering them into a corral formed of his legs as -he sat upon the ground, he swallowed them one by one, as a child -swallows berries. The goatherd saw him from the shelter of a tree, where -he hid himself when he first set eyes on Cabrakan. On the next day the -giant came again to the same place where he had fared so well, and -seeing a house a little way off went there and made a meal of the -cattle, leaving the man of the house in sorry case. The third day he -ventured farther, sitting down at noon by the side of a village and -picking up and eating such living creatures as he chanced to see, much -as an ant-eater picks up ants. Nor was there aught to hinder him, for -the people fled to the woods when they heard the earth tremble under his -tread. So, soon, the tale of how Cabrakan was robbing men came to the -ears of the twin brothers, and they swore to stay his high hand -forevermore. - -Now Cabrakan knew of the manner in which Cakix had been laid low and -knew also how Zipacna had met his end, so by neither of these ways was -it possible to destroy him. He had also pondered in his slow way, laying -half-plans to slay the twin brothers did he ever lay hands on them. -Cabrakan was the mightiest of giants and vain of his strength, and in -that vanity lay his weakness. - -One day there came a mighty storm and a turmoil of wind and water, of -thunder and lightning, so that the trees of the forest were laid low and -the rocks uprooted, while the thunderings of the sea-waves shook the -very barancas. Black were the heavens and clouds flew fast and low, so -that Cabrakan in his long life had seen nothing like it, and his heart -failed him. Nor did he rise all that day from the shelter of the -mountain where he had cast himself on the ground, until the black had -changed to gray and the wind was abated. But when the clouds had passed -and the sky was again moonlit, he saw on a hilltop a little way off the -twin brothers, Hunapu and Balanque. While the storm had raged they were -sheltered in a cave, and from it they had seen Cabrakan as he ran before -the storm to seek the shelter of the mountain. To their ears, when there -were wind lulls, came the sound of mighty whimpering and wailing from -the giant, by which they knew that his heart was far from stout. - -Seeing the twin brothers, Cabrakan rose to his feet and asked them what -they did there, and would have said more had he not suddenly found his -mind a blank. So he fell back on his chant, though there was a quaver in -his voice because of the fear in him that had not yet died, the fear of -the storm: - - “I am Cabrakan, - Cabrakan who shakes the earth, - Cabrakan who shakes the sky, - I am Cabrakan, - Master of men!” - -When he had made an end of his song Hunapu spoke and said, boldly -enough: “It is well, Cabrakan. Strong thou art, but so also are we -strong. Have you not seen how with our breaths we laid low the trees of -the forest? Saw ye not how we blew and the rocks were uprooted? How, -also, the skies were darkened? But that was a small matter, for there -are things to be done, and in this upsetting of the world my brother -alone worked. Now must two of us work, so prepare yourself well, O -Cabrakan, lest a giant be blown over the edge of the world where is -neither resting-place nor foothold. A trifling matter indeed was the -storm.” - -Hearing that, a deep misgiving was in the heart of Cabrakan. He rubbed -his eyes and looked with astonishment at the twin brothers, so slight of -build, so ruddy and fair, and seeing them and remembering the storm he -could find no words. - -Then said Balanque, as had been before agreed between the brothers, and -speaking as if in deep thought: “Perhaps it might be better if Cabrakan -joined us. It is true that he, the earth-shaker, is after all but weak, -but if he be taught to eat of cooked flesh in the manner of men, it may -be that he too may grow strong as we are.” - -Hearing that, the giant pricked up his ears, thinking, in the dull -manner of giants, that if he did but play a little to mislead the twin -brothers he might persuade them to let him eat of cooked meats, when, -his strength becoming greater, he might rid the earth of two who had -raised so mighty and fearful a storm. Perchance then, thought he, I -shall rule the land alone. So he said, cunningly: “Let me try my -strength against yours awhile, and if I be found weak, then cook me the -food that men eat, so that I may become strong and thus your useful -slave.” - -At that the twin brothers pretended to consult a little, Hunapu acting -as if he wished to raise another whirlwind, Balanque as if soothing him, -while Cabrakan stood watching them, a heavy fear in his bones. - -“Let Cabrakan,” said Hunapu presently, “overturn and pluck out the -entrails of this mountain to prove himself.” Having so said, he turned -aside, but after a moment added, as if his mind had changed on the -matter: “Yet how does it matter? We need no Cabrakan to aid us. Perhaps -it were better that I cast it over with a breath, even though Cabrakan -be blown like a leaf over the edge of the world.” - -Now though the world in which the giant lived was rocky and bare, yet it -looked fair to him and he had no mind to be cast into nothingness. So he -made his face fierce and told Hunapu that he was willing to prove his -strength. Hunapu, still playing a part, looked scornfully at the giant -as he said: “It is after all but a child’s matter, but if the mountain -be overturned, then shall the food of men be yours and your body made -strong and your wits sharpened.” - -Cabrakan lost no more time but raised his shoulders and put forth his -arms as one about to wrestle. “Let none meddle with me,” he said, “and -before the day breaks I shall pluck out the mountain by its roots.” So, -a mountain of flesh against the moonlit sky, he strode in five great -strides to the side of the mountain and flung his arms about it. First -he made a shift to pluck it straight from the earth, his feet set wide -apart, his muscles strained and knotted. Again he strove to overturn it, -now with shoulder fast-braced against the sheer rock, his legs like -towers. That failing, he strove furiously, now battering like a madman, -now pressing and stamping, so that there was a trembling all about like -an earthquake. So great was his strength that the side of the mountain -broke open and a clear stream gushed forth, the water twisting and -turning along the plain like a silver snake. All that night and morning -he wrestled with the mountain and as the day wore on he grew tired and -weary, but there was no result of his labours except the tumbling stream -and two great holes in the black living rock at the foot of the mountain -where his feet had pushed. But where his arms had encircled, the -mountain was worn smooth and bare, the very rock was polished and shone -in the sunlight. Grunting and groaning Cabrakan toiled, until at length, -seeing that he had grown too weak for mischief, Hunapu called on him to -rest awhile. - -“Hold thee a little,” he said. “This eating of the goats and the cattle -of men will make no living thing strong. A heart thou lackest. Like an -arrowless quiver or a stringless bow art thou. In the food of men alone -is strength, O Cabrakan, so that must we eat, and the meal being done -things of worth may be seen.” - -Well pleased to hear that, the weary giant cast himself down on the -ground and rubbed his palms one against another to ease them, but as he -lay there resting many a look he gave at the motionless mountain, the -glistening head of which he had tried in vain to tear from the sky. Also -most heartily he wished that the thing was at an end, or that the twin -brothers had stayed away from that place. - -Balanque kindled a fire and Hunapu shot an eagle and slowly they roasted -the bird, the smell of it pleasing the giant vastly, for he had never -tasted cooked meat, nor indeed knew any method of preparing it. - -Now in that land there grows a sort of mountain-laurel bearing a red -berry within a pod, and its power is such that whoso eats of it will -waste away as the morning mist passes before the warming sun. Many of -these berries Hunapu took and placed in the flesh of the roasted eagle, -for certain it was that neither Balanque nor his brother could leave -that place with the giant unslain. So the roasted eagle with the berries -in it they gave to Cabrakan, who swallowed it at a single gulp. - -At first he felt strong as ten giants and leaped to his feet, minded to -pluck the mountain from the earth and cast it on the twin brothers. -Fiercely he gripped, so fiercely that the top of the mountain opened and -steam came forth and a black smoke rose in the air, spreading in the -form of a vast tree; so vast it was, that it formed a cloud that veiled -the sun so that the light sickened for a time and a pale yellow touched -all things. From the top of the mountain there gushed forth hot lava -that glowed as it spread; that came faster soon, in roaring masses. But -Cabrakan rapidly waxed weak with the poison of the berries, so weak that -he clung for support to the mountain he would have plucked forth. And as -his strength waned, the malice within him grew, and dark were the looks, -evil the eye he cast on the twin brothers. - -But his day was done and his course was run. Soon his eyes grew dim and -in very weariness his head fell against the brow of the mountain. Fast -and deep for a while came his breath, his chest heaving like a sullen -sea when the storm has died. Then his strength fell away altogether and -he sank to the earth and the lava covered him. - -So came to an end Cabrakan, the earth-shaker and master of men, and thus -did the twin brothers finish that which they had set out to do. - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE TALE OF THE GENTLE FOLK - - -LET me see. This story begins at the time I climbed down the Andes on -the east side and came upon a house by a lake. There were two children -living there, one named Juan, the other, his sister, named Juanita, and -the boy was seven years old and the girl nine. They had never seen a -school, and the nearest house was more than fifty miles away. Still they -had books, knew how to read, and I do not think that they ever found the -day long. For one thing the lake was not at all deep, and a little bit -off from the shore of it was a small island. That was a kind of -playground for them, and often they paddled their boat to it in the -early morning and stayed there all day. - -There were other things highly interesting. On the second day that I was -there, I saw their tame ostrich, a great gray bird that they had had for -two years, and now and then Juan would ride it, Delicia, which was the -name of the ostrich, spreading his wings like sails, and running out in -a wide zigzag circle on the pampa, caring no more for the light weight -on his back than a chicken would care for a fly. Somehow, the birds of -that place were no more afraid of the children than the cat is afraid of -you, and they knew places where they could see the flamingo with its -scarlet cloak, the cowbird all glossy violet, the lapwings making a -drumming music, gray and white scissortail with feathers a foot long, -and red oven-birds. But their great pet was the huanaco, tall and -proud-looking, all yellow and white, like a camel without a hump, about -the size of a donkey. They called him Campeón, and he had been on the -place as long as the children could remember. Their father, who owned -many sheep, had found him when he was no larger than a fox, brought him -to the house, and he had become as tame as a pet lamb. Both Juan and -Juanita would roll over on him as he lay in the sun, burying their faces -in his gold-coloured fur, hugging his long neck, wrestling with him -until he got up and walked away to find a quieter place. They would use -him as a horse, harnessing him to a little wagon, and all would go well -sometimes, but sometimes not so well, for Campeón taking it into his -head to run, the wagon would upset, the children roll out on the soft -grass, and in a moment Campeón would free himself from the harness, -going in great leaps to find a little hill where he would perch himself -on the crest and stand like a sentinel. - -Now one day the man who was my travelling companion was out with his -rifle, and coming upon old Campeón standing on a high rock, took him for -a strange and wild animal, and, like many thoughtless men with a gun, -followed his impulse and shot. Campeón was badly wounded, and doubtless -astonished to receive such treatment from the hands of a man. Anyway he -limped on three legs to the house. Juan and Juanita grieved sadly, their -parents no less, and all was done for Campeón that could be done. As for -my friend, seeing what had happened, he was the most sorrowful of us -all. For a time it seemed as though Campeón would get better, but one -day he was plainly worse. All that day he rested on the sheltered side -of the house, refusing food and water, his finely shaped head proudly -upright, his eyes turned to the south, and the next morning there was no -sign of him. From the hill on which he had stood we could see for miles -and miles, and Juanita and I went there, taking a telescope, and we -searched the country far and wide. In the afternoon we saddled horses -and rode many, many miles until we came to a belt of sandy soil that ran -east and west, and there we saw the trail of our Campeón going straight -south. So we turned home sadly enough, for we knew that we would see the -gentle beast no more. - -And this is why: If you have read the “Arabian Nights,” you will -remember, in the story of Sindbad the Sailor, that it is told that he -discovered a wonderful valley in which were the bones of hundreds and -thousands of elephants. Whether there is any truth or not in that, I do -not know, but I do know that in south Patagonia there is a vast valley -called the Valley of the Gallegos and there the huanacos go to lay down -their bones when they feel the coming of death. And beautiful Campeón, -though he had never seen that valley, somehow felt that he must find it, -being so wounded and sick, and while we slept that moonlight night, had -left us. Both Juan and Juanita knew well enough that they would never -see Campeón dead, for they had heard the story of the huanaco valley as -often as you have the story of Cinderella. So had I heard it, and that -night when we fell to talking about Campeón, a gaucho who looked after -the horses told us the story again, and this is what he said: - - * * * * * - -Long, long ago, when there were giants and before there were horses in -this land, there lived a gentle people who did not know sickness or pain -or anger. They moved about among the animals and the birds as we move -about among the flowers in the garden, and men were much kinder and the -maidens more graceful and beautiful than any on the earth to-day. The -colours of the birds were brighter and the scent of the flowers sweeter -than now; the sun was never too hot nor the wind too cold. What was more -wonderful, the Gentle People had a strange power by means of which they -could change flowers into living things which turned to bright-coloured -birds. - -Now and then there would be great gatherings, when all the Gentle People -would come together before their prince who sat on a throne decked with -precious stones. And the people who loved him for his wisdom as well as -for his goodness brought to him at such times gold and silver and -diamonds and rubies and glittering precious stones, and these he would -give to the young people to play with, for in those days people loved -things for their beauty alone. The birds and animals too would join in -the gathering, and the air would be full of song and colour and the -scent of woods and flowers. On that day each person there would have his -or her wish granted, whatever it was. To be sure, where was so much that -was good, it seemed hard to wish for anything at all. - -There was one thing only that was forbidden to the Gentle People, which -was to go north until they saw no more the stars of the Southern Cross -in the sky, for after many days’ journey, they were told, there was a -great dark forest on the other side of which were fierce men who did -evil. But one day one of the Gentle People saw a strange bird, more -beautiful than anything ever seen, a bird whose breast shone green and -blue and gold, with a tail of long feathers white as ivory. Capa it was -who saw the bird, and it seemed strange to him that seeing him the bird -flew away. Never before had he seen a bird that he could not touch and -hold, and the more the bird avoided him the more eager was he to take it -to the prince. So he followed it as it went from place to place, always -thinking that at last the strange bird would allow him to draw near. -That it feared him he never knew, for his people knew no fear, neither -did the animals nor birds that lived among them. At last the bird led -him to the edge of the forest, and when he looked into the sky that -night he saw new stars there, at which he wondered. Into the forest he -went, always following the bird, and so tall and thick were the trees -that the sun did not shine and the stars were blotted out at night. - -Then one day he came to a place where he saw men with yellow skins and -teeth like a dog, who gathered about him. Never before had he seen such -people, who tore animals apart and ate of the flesh, who tore skins from -living creatures and wore them on their own bodies. To make matters -worse, these yellow-skinned ones seized Capa and took from him his -glorious robes of gold and silver thread, tore the feathers from his -hair and plucked away the ruby that he wore for its beauty. Then, -greatly to his surprise, they fell on one another, fighting for the -things that they had taken from Capa, so that the very robe they -struggled for was torn and trampled under foot. At that Capa turned and -fled back through the forest, never stopping day or night, until he came -to his own people. - -Straight to the prince he went and told his tale, hearing which, the -prince was sad at heart. - -“You have,” he said, “been where there are greed and selfishness and -avarice, and it is bad for us. For those of the yellow skin will not -rest until they have found us and brought sorrow into our midst.” - -Then he called all his people together and they came, as they always -did, singing and dancing and bearing flowers, and after them came the -birds and animals, skipping and flying, calling. But a great silence -fell upon all when they saw their Golden Prince, for his eyes were -grave. - -So he told the Gentle People all that Capa had seen, and Capa himself -stood by the side of his prince and sang a sad song, so that the people -knew of the evil on the other side of the dark forest, and the hearts of -the Gentle People were as heavy as was the heart of the Golden Prince. -And the prince told them that if they chose, he would arm them and lead -them so that they could go forth and fight against the yellow-faced men -when they came, “but,” he went on to say, “having learned to fight and -to do hurt and to bring death, then you yourselves will turn on each -other, will bring death to your own people. You will turn against the -animals and they will turn against you. You will walk the land alone, -and all things will avoid and hide from you. These things of the earth, -these bright and shining things which to-day you take or leave as you -wish, you will play with no more, but will hide in boxes and under -stones so that others may not see them.” When he said this last he -picked up a handful of diamonds and rubies, of emeralds and gold dust, -and poured them from one hand to another, so that it was as a cascade -that fell bright and dazzling in the sunlight. - -Fearing that, the Gentle Folk looked at one another, and there was no -doubt in their minds. “Far better,” said they, “is it that we should -change in some manner and flee away than that we should do evil to the -birds and beasts that are our friends.” - -Then the Golden Prince called on his people to follow him, and as the -yellow man broke through the forest as he had said they would, he led -all of them away swiftly, and the multitude of animals and birds -followed them. Having arrived at a great valley where was a river, he -told his people that he would change their form so that they would -become for a time other creatures, but creatures that would neither bite -nor scratch nor spit poison, nor do any kind of harm. So he changed them -into huanacos, animals of proud and graceful carriage, and their dress -was of red and white like the gold and silver they wore. Then when he -saw his people thus, friends of the birds and animals they loved, he -changed himself into one also, but greater and more beautiful than any. - -But there was a memory of that time, and even to this day when a herd of -huanacos is seen, there also is one standing on a high rock as sentinel, -keeping watch for the yellow men. And when at last the prince huanaco -died, he died in the valley; seeing which, each of his people also laid -down their bones in that place, as you may read in many books. So must -it be until each and every huanaco has passed away. Yet remember this: -Where dies a huanaco, there springs up a flower blue as the sky, its -petals all gold-tipped. And when the day comes in which the last huanaco -dies, then the yellow men will be gone. On that day each flower will -bend to its neighbour and, at a word, there will stand a great host, for -the spirit of the huanaco is in the flower that is blue and gold-tipped. -Then, for ever and ever, the Gentle People will again have their land, -and kindness and gentleness and beauty and joy will be theirs once more. - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE TALE THAT COST A DOLLAR - - -WE sailed for many a day, Bob and I, up narrow channels and down wide -ones, twisting and turning this way and that, east, west, north, south, -because of wind and tide and cape and bay, and then we came to a kind of -S-shaped strait. Through it we went and found that it opened into a wide -water, as smooth as glass and so clear that we could see down to the -sandy bottom where seaweeds clung to rocks and fishes swam in a strange -greenish light. Then, by great good luck, we found a place where was -deep water and followed the channel landward, and it turned out to be -the cutting made by a stream of very cold water that came down from the -mountain. So there was strange rowing for us, for we worked our boat -into the rivulet which was so narrow that very often both oars were on -the grassy land. When at last we stopped, it was because the banks came -so close together that our boat blocked the passage, so we stepped to -land as easily as one might step onto a wharf. - -Next morning, having covered our things from the foxes and made all neat -and shipshape, we set off on a walk, climbed a high ridge and looked for -a while over a confusion of little islands and narrow straits, then -wondered at the blue of sea and sky, and after that wandered down a long -slope, to come soon to a pleasant valley, and the more we saw of it the -better we liked it. It seemed to have everything desirable, soft grass, -clear and cool water, shelter from the winds, and peaceful quiet. A -half-dozen horses could be seen a little way off, and on a blue hill in -the distance there were cows and sheep. Soon we heard the voices of -children and the interlacing echoes. So we rounded the hill and came -upon houses, four of them altogether and all thatched with yellow -rushes. The children that we had heard we saw, and they were playing -with a pet huanaco, and at one of the doors, seated on a rush-bottomed -chair was an old woman whose face was wrinkled and brown though her body -seemed as supple as that of a young person. Seeing us the children left -their play and stood, their dove-eyes full of wonder. - -For the rest of that day we rested, enjoying the place. In the evening, -when men and lads returned from their hunting or their fishing or their -herding or whatever they did, there was good fellowship in the pleasant -December twilight, and as we talked and sang we became better -acquainted. Of course, like all travellers in that or any other open -country, we had to tell the tale of our wanderings, how we came to be -there and why, and when we had done, one or the other of them told us -what might be said to be the history of their people, one helping the -other out, correcting the talker when he was at fault, and sometimes -taking the tale from him to tell it better. - -They talked Spanish, for all were originally from Chile, and we learned -that the old woman’s husband, who was no longer living, had been a -soldier who had fought against Peru and was on board a warship called -the _Esmeralda_ which was sunk by another, and on that sad day, she -said, more than a hundred were drowned. A merciful Heaven permitted her -husband to get ashore after much danger, and wandering, he had found the -valley in which we then were (for having found it he had gone to his own -place, which I took to be Ancud or somewhere near there), and with three -neighbour families they had wandered, delighted to find a place where -were no din and clashes and war. “And,” said the old woman, lifting her -hands and throwing them a little apart, “here by the grace of Heaven we -are at peace.” - -When she had done the children chattered a little, insisting that she -had missed the most interesting part of all. She should, they held, tell -the strangers the tale of how the valley had been made, of why there was -a river, of how it had come to pass that there were woods through which -the river flowed and especially why Laguna Viedma was salt. The -caballeros, they were sure, would like to know all that, it being a tale -most wonderful and strange. But the old woman shook her head and made -herself a cigarette, saying that it was a tale told her by a very, very -old Indian woman who was there when she first saw the place, and the -Indian had heard it from her mother, and she from her mother, and she -again from her mother, so the tale went so far back that whether it had -truth in it or not none could tell. At that the young people said that, -true or not, it was a good tale, and they were so politely insistent, -especially a little girl who petted a blue-eyed kitten, that we heard -the story which, so far as I know, has never yet been written, and were -it not written now might be forgotten for ever. So here it is, and my -daughters, Julia and Helen, like it better than any story in this book, -though their brothers are in favour of the tale of the Noseless People. - - * * * * * - -Long ago, said the old woman, south of the Laguna Viedma lived a bruja, -or kind of witch, a mean and wicked creature who had a house at the foot -of the cordilleras built of great slabs of stone, in which there were -three rooms. In one of these rooms she had imprisoned a boy and in -another a girl, and the boy she allowed to roam about in the garden in -the daytime but locked him up whenever the sun set, and the girl she -locked up whenever the sun rose, so that the boy had never known night -and the girl had never seen day, nor had the boy or the girl cast eyes -on one another. - -The boy, growing out of childhood, grew restless, and one day he dug a -passage in his stone cell under the wall and up on the other side, much -as a rabbit might have done, so that after being locked up he could -spend a little time in the twilight, watching the dancing green stars -that were fireflies. Still, whenever it grew dark and the edges of the -things that he saw were no longer sharp, he scuttled back to his stone -room, not knowing what clawed horror might unfold from the dark. For we -must remember, said the old woman who told the tale, in all his life he -had seen no human being but the witch, and knew no more of the moving -world than the horses that we use know of the horses that drag a -thousand noisy wheels in the city streets. Nor did he know of the ten -thousand silver lights in the sky at night, nor of the bright glory of -the Southern Cross. - -One evening when the boy was in the vega, he having crawled through his -passage, his heart fell when he saw a strange creature dressed in white, -with long black hair and soft eyes. When the strange thing walked -towards him he was startled, for he also saw the gray mist from which -she came, and in that mist he seemed to see other thickening shapes. So, -for a moment, he had a mind to kill the long-haired creature as an evil -thing, and picked up a sharp stone, but his heart somehow bade him do -otherwise, and he turned and fled, running straight to his hole by the -side of the bush, then dropped to his knees without a backward look, -scrambled to his cell and put a big flat stone over the hole, lest the -long-haired one should follow and kill him. As for the girl, seeing the -swift-running lad, she watched in surprise for a little, then followed, -and coming to the hole in the ground shuddered with fear, believing that -under the earth she trod lived thousands of such creatures that, -perchance, roamed in the daytime and did evil. - -The next day when the witch let the lad out after shutting the girl in -her stone place, she was surprised to see fear in his eyes, for all that -night he had lain awake in his dread of the long-haired one, trembling -at every sound, lest the unknown should find the passage and creep -through into his cell of safety. - -All that day he worked hard, rolling a great boulder up from the valley -so that he might close the outer opening of his burrow, but so heavy was -the rock and so far the distance, that the sun set before he had rolled -it to its place. Still, he moved it a long way and got it over his -burrow and close to the bush. Then he sought the witch so that she might -lock him up for the night, but to his grief she did not come, and this -is why: - -After she had unlocked the girl’s door that evening she remembered the -look of fear that had been in the lad’s eyes, so went into his cell to -see if anything harmful was there, and her foot struck the flat stone. -Then she found the opening of the hole. Wondering greatly, she crawled -into the passage, pushing hard because it was too small for her. At one -place she had to remove much dirt above her head because the roof was so -low, and pulling away a stone, down came a shower of little stones and -of earth, then more and still more, until with a thundering noise the -big boulder, which the lad had rolled and left, fell into the hole and -very narrowly escaped the witch. So she was stuck fast, deep buried in -the ground, her onward way blocked by the boulder against which she -butted her head in vain. As for getting back by the way she had come, -that was impossible, for, finding night coming on and no guardian witch, -the boy fled to his cell. There he saw the black, uncovered hole and the -flat rock he had placed over it, and listening he heard sounds in the -tunnel. In his fear of the long-haired creature he pulled the flat rock -over the hole again and on it piled rock upon rock. That done he gave a -sigh of relief and straightened himself, but his heart sank when he saw -in his cell the very thing that he most dreaded. For the girl, being -brave in the dark and glad in the silence, sought a companion in her -loneliness, and found the boy’s cell with its open door. But with the -lad night brought fear. In the golden sunshine he met danger gladly -enough, but in the soft moonlight when the true forms of things were -lost, the world seemed baseless and dreamlike and unsubstantial. So, -seeing the creature of the night in his cell, he threw up his arms and, -not daring to look, fled into the garden and into the ghostly world. - -The whispering stillness of what he saw made him tremble violently, for -it was a dead world and not the world throbbing with the sweet song of -friendly birds and the noise of busy insects. The green and gold of day -had strangely gone and the brave hardness that he knew in his world was -not in the sky, but instead, a soft black roof hung with strange lights. -And even his feet were robbed of speed, and trees and bushes clawed him. -As he fled he looked over his shoulder in affright because of the -long-haired pursuer. Not far did he go before a creeping vine caught him -about the ankle and his foot struck a root, so that he fell headlong, -striking his head against a tree-trunk. The silver-sprinkled sky whirled -wildly and then all went black. - -He woke to the touch of delicate light hands bathing his face with cool -water, but lay with fast-closed eyes, believing, hoping that it was a -dream. Presently, though still faint and weary and in pain, he opened -his eyes to see the face of the maiden as she bent over him, and the -cloud of soft hair that rippled as silk grass ripples when touched by -the breeze. As he looked, finding something gentle and kind in the face, -he chanced to see the white moon, great and cold, rushing swiftly -through an army of silver clouds. The sight was new and terrible and he -grew dizzy and faint. Something evil seemed to have stolen the warmth -from the sky so that the birds had died and the flowers withered. - -With eyelids closed he wrestled with his fear and heard the golden voice -of the girl saying again and again: - -“Am I not your friend in this lonely place? Am I not your friend? Why -then do you run from me?” - -In spite of his fear he was wrapped in happiness at the words, for he -knew that he had been long lonely, though he had not told himself so -until then. Yet the darkness stretching wide and the stars and the -shadows made him chill at heart, though like a true man he strove to -master his fear. While he kept his eyes closed it was well enough, but -to open them on the sunless world was pain. For all that, he nerved -himself to speak. - -“Yes. Let us go,” he said, “from this world of shadows,” and she, -thinking that he meant the place of the witch, took his hand and said, -“Yes. Let us go, my new-found friend.” - -He rose to his feet then and said that he was ready, though he covered -his eyes with his hand. Then she told him to wait, saying she knew of a -hollow place in a tree in which was a flint the old witch had hidden, -and the armadillo had told her there was some magic in it, though what -that magic power was he did not know, except that it had the power to -cut down trees. It would be well, she added, for them to take it with -them. - -Great was his loneliness while she was away, and though he opened his -eyes once, all things were so strange and cold and silent that he closed -them again. Once he heard the shrieking voice of the witch-woman under -the ground and he wondered why the sound was so muffled. Had she, too, -come near to death in the black world? Again he heard the voice of the -owl, melancholy and solemn. - -But his new-found friend came soon, to his joy, and she gave him the -flint and took his hand to lead him, for he dared not open his eyes -because of the moon, and she thought him sightless. So all that night -they ran thus, hand in hand, over places where there were cruel sharp -stones, across mist-blown swamps and pantano lands, and where the way -was hard he carried the maiden, though he always kept his eyes closed -and trusted to her guidance. - -So the girl was strong and helpful to him until the dark began to pass, -then, with the rose of dawn the lad cried joyfully, “I fear no more now -and am strong again. Perhaps it is the magic of the flint that makes me -so.” - -But she said, “Alas! I fear that the stone we carry is not good but -evil. Let us throw it away, for I grow weak and afraid and ill at ease. -Greatly I fear the sky so hard and blue, my new-found friend.” - -Hearing that, he laughed a little and called her his Golden One and bade -her trust in him, so she was comforted a little, though still afraid. -Then, as the rose and gold of sunrise sped across the sky and the -thousand birds awoke and burst into song, his heart was full of -happiness, but she, having heard no such noise before, wept with the -utter pain of it, clapping her hands over her ears. Her eyes, too, were -full of burning pain because of the growing flood of light. Still, she -fought with her fear for a while, though she was sadly longing for the -world with its friendly dark. But when the sun came up in his brilliancy -and the boy greeted it with a great shout of joy, she was as one stunned -and said: - -“Alas! Go, dear lad, and leave me to die all parched and withered. For -into the burning light I cannot go. My eyes are scorched and my brain is -on fire. The sweet silence is no more and the heart of night is dead.” - -At that sad speech the lad was full of grief lest he should lose his -new-found friend, so he pulled from the trees light-green branches and -wove them into a canopy and bound about her brow a veil of cool -greenness, then lifting her in his arms, he went on happy in the singing -sunshine, yet sad because she was white-faced and full of strange -tremblings. At noon, when the heat of day was like brass and the sky was -fierce with light, they came to a place of tender green coolness where -was a vine-hung hollow in the mountainside, and there they rested -awhile. The lad made for the maid a seat of matted leaves and mosses and -brought to her berries and fruits and tender roots, and for drink, cool -water in a leaf. - -So at last came the light between day and night when neither was afraid, -she brave at heart because of the passing of the burning light of day -and he fearless because the night of sorrow had not yet come. Hand in -hand they went towards a great plain all flower-spangled and smiling. - -The witch they had forgotten, or thinking of her had supposed her to be -fast in her own place. Yet it was not so, for deep in the burrow in -which she had vainly tried to go back and as vainly tried to go forward -she had her mind made up to escape by some means. With a mighty heave, -for she was of great strength, she burst her way out of the ground and -then stood, shaking the dirt out of her eyes and her ears and her hair. -That done she sought the boy and the girl, but found no trace of them. -At last the armadillo who always tells secrets, told her of what had -happened, so she sought the magic flint, the terrible cutting flint -which she could throw to kill. Finding it, too, gone, she was in mad -rage, whirling, leaping, and screaming. Another moment and she left the -place, going in mighty leaps, her bow and arrow in her hand, and soon -from the top of a hill she saw the boy and girl as they stood looking at -the smiling valley. - -Now that valley was the valley of the huanacos wherein the witch was -powerless, and that she well knew. Did the two once gain the shelter of -the mountains, all her witcheries would be of no avail. Indeed, that -very thing the sentinel huanaco was telling the children at the very -moment the witch caught sight of them, and the animal bade them haste -lest the witch touch them before they crossed the plain. So hand in hand -boy and girl ran, and seeing them so near safety the witch went over the -ground like a horse, bounding over bush and stone, taking five yards at -each stride. - -Then to help the children, from right and from left came huanacos, by -tens and twenties and hundreds, their proud heads held high, their soft -eyes full of loving kindness, and they ran by the side of the two who -fled, and some formed in a body behind them so that the arrows shot by -the witch could not touch boy or girl, though many a good huanaco laid -down his life, thus shielding them. - -Seeing the pass to which things had come, the old witch bethought her of -another plan, and taking her magic arrow she shot it high in the air so -that it passed over the herd of huanacos and fell to earth far in front -of the boy and girl. As soon as the shaft touched the ground it split -into a thousand pieces, each no thicker than spider silk, and each -fragment took root and became a tree. In a single moment the whole plain -was covered with a thick, solemn tangle of forest through which no -living creature could hope to pass, and sadly enough, boy and girl -turned to behold the witch coming toward them fast. But all about her -feet were the animal friends of the boy and girl, foxes and small -creatures, while about her head flew many tinamou-partridges, so that -soon she was forced to slacken her pace. Then to boy and girl came a -puma, smooth and beautiful, and it said, “El pedernal! El pedernal!” and -they at once remembered the magic flint. - -Taking the stone and poising it the lad threw with all his might. -Through the air it hummed, and hearing the music of it the old witch -gave a piercing yell, for well she knew its power. Straight toward the -forest the stone flew, and before it trees fell to right and left as -though the stone had been a great and keen axe handled by a giant, and -the path it made was straight and open and clear, so that through the -gap they saw the valley. Again the huanacos closed about the boy and -girl so that nothing might harm them, and down through the straight -opening they all went. Nor was that all. Having cut a way through the -forest tangle the flint dropped and buried itself into the ground, -boring down and down, until it fell into the lake of clear water that -lies hidden under the ground. Out of the hole came bubbling a stream of -water, silver and cool, and it flowed down the gap in the forest and -passed out on the farther side, then split to run on both sides of the -witch, to whom water was death. Deeper and deeper became the water until -it covered the very colina on which she stood, and when at last the -water touched her feet, she melted as sugar does. - -“The stream,” said the old woman who told us the tale, “went on and on -and became Laguna Viedma, and the forest is the forest you see. As for -the boy and the girl, they became man and wife and lived in the place -where we now sit for many, many years, and about them stayed many -huanacos and deer and tinamou, and the sorry past was soon forgotten -like a last year’s nest.” - - * * * - -Having said all that, the old woman, whose face was wrinkled and brown, -drew a white woollen poncho over her shoulders and eyed me. After a -while she said that she had told that tale to four men at different -times and each of them had liked it so well that he had given her a -dollar of silver. - -“And,” said she with spirit, “I can show you the dollars to prove that -what I say is true.” So getting up she went into the house and soon came -out again with four silver coins, carrying them in her open palm. For a -little while she was silent and so was I, and the men sitting around -pretended to be inattentive and lit cigarettes and blew smoke rings, -jangling their big spurs now and then. Presently the old woman said: - -“Some day a brave caballero will hear the tale and he will make the four -dollars to be five.” - -Thinking it well to be counted brave, and hoping that I was a gentleman, -I brought her expectations to pass, having a dollar with me, as luck had -it. And certainly I think that the tale was worth a dollar, and if it -was not, then it was worth many dollars to rest a while in that quiet -place and to meet such worthy and simple folk. - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE MAGIC KNOT - - -THERE was once a lad whose name was Borac who might have been the son of -a king, and again might not. No one ever really knew, though a wise old -woman who lived near by said that he was, and so many things that she -said were found to be true that people believed what she said of Borac. -Borac was found by the side of a lake by a man who was gathering fruit. -This man saw what he took to be a shining white stone, and, going to it, -found a basket neatly made of silk grass lined with soft white feathers, -and in it, warm and cosy like a bird in a nest, was the child Borac. So -the man took the basket and the baby home with him, and his children -were delighted with their new playmate. That made four children for the -man and his wife to take care of, for he had three of his own, but good -luck came to him from the day he found Borac and things went very well. -As for the newcomer, he was treated exactly as were the rest of the -children in that house, and like them grew strong of limb and ruddy of -face. - -So there were two boys and two girls, playmates, and each day was a -golden one for them. Somehow, Borac seemed to see things and to know -things that the others often missed. Not that his sight was any better -than the sight of his foster-brother and -sisters, for in the place -where they lived at the foot of the mountains, where the air was clean -and sharp, everyone had good eyesight. Things at a distance were as -clear-cut as things are when you look through a field-glass. But as -Borac grew, he saw beauty in common things and pointed out to the others -the colours in the sunset sky, the pure blue of the lake water, the -sun-sparkle on the stream, and the fresh green of the hill grass. Then, -too, there were the songs of the birds. That music they had grown up -with, had heard so often that they had forgotten the beauty of it all, -until one day Borac began to call like a bird and from every tree and -bush came a chorus so rich and so wonderful that the joy in their hearts -was more like a sweet pain. You know how that is. - -Now there was a place in the mountains where the cliff ran straight up, -and so smooth it was that no one had ever climbed it, though the -children there were sure-footed as goats and could climb the highest -places without growing faint or dizzy when high up. - -Half-way up this cliff was a broad ledge on which a condor had built its -nest, and Borac and his friends often played at the foot of the cliff -and loved to watch the condor drop off of his rock shelf with spread -wings and float far above, winding in mighty circles for hours, floating -higher and higher into the sky without wing motion and just leaning -over, it seemed, to go with the wind or against the wind, up and up, -until he looked no larger than a humming-bird against the blue. So high -he went sometimes that if one but blinked for a moment, the little black -spot seemed to disappear. If any one of them had been granted a wish, -that wish would have been that he or she might have the power to soar -and wheel like the great bird, sweeping up in a great curve to hang in -the air, floating downward in a long, long line, sliding, as it were, to -sweep up again at will. - -One day when Borac and his three friends were there, one of the girls -called out in great trouble, pointing up the face of the cliff to a -place where was a cranny, and looking, the others saw a large mottled -owl with two staring eyes perched on a point of rock, and just below -they could make out a pigeon on its nest. It seemed to them that the owl -was screaming, “Ah! I see you, little dove. Sharp as needles are my -claws. Sharp, too, is my beak to tear you, and little owls are hungry -for the flesh of doves.” - -That seemed very terrible to those who saw, and the four children began -to shout and to throw stones, trying to chase the owl away, but it was -of no use. The nest of the rock-pigeon was too far away and the face of -the rock too smooth and sheer for any of them to climb, so there seemed -nothing for it but to watch until the little bird was captured. The -pigeon, they saw, was in great fear, but in spite of the danger stayed -on the nest. As for the owl, he turned his face downwards toward them, -hearing the noise, and they saw his cruel eyes and his head-feathers -that were like horns, but he gave no sign of going away. Indeed, he -hooted at them, as if to say, “Who cares for you, little -earth-creatures?” - -To the watchers it was like a jailor hanging over a prisoner who is -innocent, or like a man with a sword about to deal a death-blow to a -child. It was very sad to them to see the dove all helpless and, above -her, the owl ready to dash down at any moment. As for Borac, he was so -full of grief that he had started to climb the cliff, though it was -clear to him as well as to his friends that he could not mount far. When -he had climbed some little way up, a wonderful thing came to pass. From -the sky where the condor wheeled, came dropping a long feather, a -wing-feather which the great bird had plucked, and it fell spinning and -at last rested on a little rock hump close to Borac’s right hand. His -left hand, meanwhile, was clutching fast to the rock above his head. - -Now why Borac should pick up such a thing as a feather when he needed -his hands free he did not know, and certainly none of his friends could -guess. But he did so, and not only that but looked at it curiously, just -as you would do, to note the smooth lines of it and the beauty of the -thing. And as he did this he twisted it just a little, gave it a turn -with his fingers. At that he floated gently from the face of the rock, -out from the cliff and into the air, until he was poised over the heads -of his companions, hanging as lightly as a piece of thistle-down. Again -he twisted it, just a little, and went upward. Then he tried other -things, pointing it a little toward the face of the cliff, and, -wonderful enough, floated that way. So he as well as the children knew -that there was magic in the feather. Up then he darted with its aid, -swiftly as the swiftest bird, rushing through the air, then swooped away -from the cliff most beautifully, went upward again, made a great circle -as he dived again, then shot upward, and so to the place where the owl -sat. - -Seeing him, the sharp-clawed thing raised its wings and softly flew away -and was seen no more. - -Somehow, the three at the foot of the cliff were not at all afraid. They -knew everything would come right. Indeed, they leaped with joy and -delight when they saw Borac standing on the rock ledge, and they clapped -their hands when they heard the little slate-coloured creature coo with -gratitude when the owl vanished. But what Borac did next they could not -tell, though they saw him stoop and pick up something. - -This is what happened: Borac, up there, saw behind the dove’s nest a -coil of silky stuff no thicker than a fine thread, and in the middle of -it was a queer knot. At first he thought it was a part of the nest, so -would not touch it, but soon the bird rose from its nest, picked up the -end of the thread, and walked with it to Borac. He took it then, wound -in the rest of the coil, and it lay in his hand taking up no more room -than a wild cherry would, so very fine it was in texture. But he knew at -once that he had the magic knot of which the old woman had so often -spoken, the magic knot that could bind evil things, though they were so -strong that they could lift rocks. How the magic knot got there neither -he nor any one else could know, and it did not matter very much. -Certainly but for it, the owl would have captured the dove. The condor -may have known about it, for condors are very wise, travel far, and see -much that escapes the eyes of men. Anyway, Borac did not stay long, but -feather in hand leaped into the air, though he was so high that his -friends looked to him no larger than foxes, and swooping down landed -lightly on the earth. - -Then there were experiments. Each of the children wanted to try the -feather in turn and great fun they had that evening, flying higher and -higher as they grew braver, until at last each of them had stood on the -faraway shelf where was the condor’s nest. It was easy to do and they -found that all would go well so long as there was neither doubt nor -fear. The magic feather would carry them quite safely so long as they -believed in it. If they did not believe in it, then not a foot could -they get from the earth. As for the magic thread with its wonderful -knot, what good that might be they did not know, but it was certainly -magic, and magic things, as they knew, always come in useful. So they -guarded it carefully, packing it away in a nutshell where it should be -handy when needed. And the magic knot came in useful much sooner than -they expected, and if you are not going to be scared you may hear the -tale, but if the hearing of it will make you nervous in the dark, or -cause you to be afraid so that at night, being outside the house and -nearing it, you make a hurried run to get to the door, then you had -better read no farther. For you may as well understand that the magic -knot did actually do the work and the thing that it bound is bound for -ever and ever, so that no one of you should be afraid of the dark, nor -be shivery as your hand is set on the door latch lest something should -leap out of the dark and seize you. - -Here then is the place to stop if you are timid, but if you are not you -may read what comes next and after these three stars: - - * * * - -One night in the village next to that in which Borac and his three -friends lived, something happened. In a little house that sat near a -clearing some people were sitting talking, and being thirsty one of them -asked the boy of the house to take the gourd and go to the stream for -water. He did so, going bravely into the dark, for the stream was but a -hundred steps away from the house door. The people in the house waited -and waited, wondering why the boy was so long, and at last someone went -to look for him. Down to the little river they went and back again, but -there was no sign of the boy. - -Now that was bad enough, but what was worse was that on the next night a -boy went to visit a friend who lived five houses away, and that boy -never reached his friend’s house. His father and mother went to look for -him and traced his footsteps in the sandy road, but came to a place -where the steps stopped and beyond was smooth sand. Then on the third -night something happened. A girl and her sister were visiting and the -younger girl started to go home alone. No sooner had she left than her -sister, remembering how the boys had vanished, ran after her to bear her -company. The night was moonless and a thin cold mist hid the stars, but -the sister could see the little one’s white dress a little way ahead. -She could not see very plainly because it was so dark, but there was no -mistake about it. The fluttering white thing was in front, cloudy -looking certainly, but there. Then of a sudden something happened. The -white cloud that was a dress had vanished. So the older sister ran to -the place and heard a voice calling and the sound seemed to come from -above her head. She looked up and saw a flutter of white for an instant, -then nothing more. Her sister had vanished exactly as a bubble vanishes. - -Because of all that there was terror in the village. In the day the -people were nervous enough, but at night there was great fear. No one -dared stir out after sunset. Even within doors people sat as if on -thorns. Then one night when there was no glimmer of light in the sky, a -family sitting in a house heard a great tearing sound as if some giant -hand was pulling at the thatched roof. The light in the house went out -and those who sat in the room crouched trembling, crowding close to one -another, their hearts throbbing. When at last it was quiet again they -saw that a ragged hole was in the roof, and on the earth floor there was -a mark like the claw of a great bird. - -That was all, but there was trouble in the hearts of the people, and -soon the news of it all came to Borac. He listened to the tale -attentively and so did the wise old woman who was there. She nodded -thoughtfully and said: - -“But have no fear. Things will not go ill while the moon shines.” - -She said much more, particularly asking Borac if he had the magic knot, -and then she told him what to do. And with the growing moon the trouble -ceased. - -Meanwhile, Borac was busy. The old woman had talked with him as has been -said, and day after day with the help of his magic feather he made great -flights, circling high in the sky, crossing valleys, and passing over -mountain and lake, and seeing strange lands far to the west and the -great ocean that reached far until it touched the sky. Then the condors -were good to him and with them he flew hither and thither, as fast and -as high as they, never tiring, never lagging, and they took him in a new -direction and to a place where out of a great bare valley rose a -monstrous black bird, a bird so strong that it could bear away a llama -in each claw and another in its beak. So big it was that beside it a -condor seemed tiny. It was an ugly bird and the eye of it was -heavy-lidded and baleful, its claws sharp. The wings flapped so heavily -that the wind from them caused the trees near by to bend their tops as -if they leaned to whisper, one to another. Borac at once knew it for the -great bird of evil that swooped down on dark nights and carried men -away, and he also knew that in the world there was but one and that it -laid but one egg. - -For many days the lad watched, following the bird wherever it went, and -at last discovered its foul nest high up in the mountains where man -never set foot. By the side of its nest, in which was an egg so great -that a goat might have hidden in the shell of it, was a hole in the -rock. In this hole, the sides of which were very steep, were all those -whom the great bird had carried away. Day by day, as Borac saw, the bird -dropped fruit down into the hole, so that the unhappy creatures might -live until the egg was hatched, when they would, he knew, be taken out -and given to the young one to eat. When the great bird had flown away, -Borac ventured close to the hole and called out to the people there to -be of good cheer, for he would rescue them soon and also kill the bird. - -Back to his own place he flew then with his magic feather and told -everyone what he had seen, and, as the wise old woman advised, Borac and -his friends chose a stout tree and cut the top and the branches from it. -They then formed the trunk into the shape of a youth, leaving the roots -fast in the earth. This figure they painted and covered with a garment -and in the hand of it they put a large gourd, so that from afar the -thing looked like one going for water. Close to it they built a house of -poles and covered it with grass for a roof, in the fashion of the -country, and all that they had ready before the moon was again dark. -Then everything being prepared, Borac went into the house and waited. - -Three nights he was there, then taking his feather flew here and there. -At last he saw a great black cloud swiftly moving, which he knew to be -the evil bird, so he made for his house and soon there came a great -tearing sound in the air. As the bird came it set up a terrific -screeching and the noise that it made with the beating of its wings was -like thunder-claps. Down it swooped on the man of wood, claws -outstretched and beak open, and in another moment it had seized the -figure and was trying to lift it. The more the figure resisted, the -tighter the evil bird held, its claws and beak fast sunk in the wood. So -fearful were its struggles that the earth about the root of the tree -heaved, and it seemed as if the roots would be torn out bodily. Then -finding that it could not move the thing, the bird made to fly away, but -its talons and beak were held by the wood as if in a vise. All its -flappings and tearings then were of no avail, and try as it would, it -could not release itself. Faster and harder it beat its wings and the -wind from them bowed the bushes and shook the house in which Borac was -hidden. - -Then Borac came forth with magic feather and magic knot, and was soon in -the air above the struggling bird. Hovering there he unloosed the thread -with the magic knot and lowered it. Down it dropped and was soon -entangled in the beating wings like a web about a fly, and, slight -though the thread was, against the power of the magic knot nothing could -prevail. So in a short time the great black bird was bound for ever. - -In the morning Borac flew to the nest in the far valley and went down -into the pit in which were the unlucky ones that the bird had caught. -One by one he carried them from that place and to their homes. As for -the egg, putting his shoulder against it he tumbled it from the ledge -where the nest was, and it fell and was smashed to pieces. So there was -an end of the evil bird, which soon died; and it was the last of its -kind; and to-day, of all the birds of the air, there are none to do harm -to man. - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE BAD WISHERS - - -FOR days and days and for weeks and weeks Canassa and I rode to the -south, and the only break in our days was when we changed our tired -horses for fresh ones. That we did sometimes four times in the day. We -had plenty of choice, for we were driving some three hundred mares and -colts. Canassa was a gaucho, a plainsman, as we would say, and a most -excellent horseman, so he made nothing at all of catching an unbroken -colt with his lasso and saddling and riding it, doing his share of the -driving with the horse new to saddle. - -With so much of it I grew tired, and one night as we sat about our -little campfire heating water for our maté, the tea we made from herbs, -I said that I wished the job was at an end. - -Canassa strummed his guitar awhile, then laid it aside and said: - -“Wishes are no good and he who wishes, risks. For why? Whenever you -wish, you leave out something that should not be left out, and so things -go wrong.” - -I told him that a small wish might be all right, but this he would not -allow. Things had to go just so, he said, and no one in the world was -wise enough to wish things as they should be wished. Then, in the way of -the men of the pampas, he told me a tale to prove the truth of what he -said, and this was the tale: - - * * * * * - -Once there was a woman in Paraguay who had no children and she wished -day and night for a boy and a girl. She did more than wish, going to a -place in the woods where were wild sweet limes and oranges and lemons, -and where the pools were covered with great leaves of waterliles, and in -the quiet of that place she made a song about the children she wished -for. In that song she sang of the boy as handsome and swift of foot and -strong of arm, and she sang of the girl as a light creature with keen -eyes and silken hair. Day after day she did this and at last her wish -came true, for she had a boy and a girl and the boy was straight-limbed -and well made and the girl as lovely as a flower of the air. - -So far, so good. But that was not the end. The woman had wished that the -boy might be strong and brave and swift and all these he was. But she -had not thought of other things, and, sad to say, he lacked sight. For -him there was neither day nor night, neither sun nor moon, neither green -of the pampas nor blue of the sky. As for the girl, it is true that she -had sight so keen that she could see the eye of a humming-bird at a -hundred paces, but her legs were withered and useless and she could not -walk, for the mother in wishing had said nothing of her health and -strength. To crawl about, helping herself with her hands, was as much as -she could do. - -Seeing what had come to pass the mother was very sad, for her dream had -become a very pesadilla, a nightmare. So she grieved and each day grew -paler, and at last one evening caught her children in her arms and -kissed them and they saw her no more, the neighbours next morning -telling them that she had died. - -Now one day when the children were well grown, there came to the house -in which they lived a man in a torn poncho who said that he had walked -hundreds of miles, from the land of the Noseless People where it is -always cold. He was tired and hungry and torn with thorn-bushes, and his -feet were cut with stones. So the boy and girl took him into the house -and gave him water to wash himself with and chipa bread made of mandioca -flour and sweet raspadura in banana leaves. When he was well rested and -refreshed, in return for their great kindness he told them of a strange -old witch-woman who lived far away, one who knew many secrets by means -of which she could do wonderful things. - -“In a turn of the hand,” said he, “she could make the girl strong of -limb and with another turn could restore sight to the lad.” - -Then he went on to tell of other witches that he knew, saying that there -were many who were not all bad, but like men, were a mixture. True, they -sometimes kept children, but that was not to be laid to their meanness -but rather to their love of beauty. “For,” he said, “it is no more wrong -to keep a child to look at than it is to pluck a flower or to cage a -bird. Or, to put it another way, it is as wrong to cage a bird as it is -to steal a child.” - -The meal being done the three of them sang a little, and the sun being -set the old man bade them good-night and stretched out under a tree to -sleep, and the next morning before the children awoke he had gone. - -All that day brother and sister talked much of what the old man had told -them, and the girl’s face flushed red and her eyes were bright as she -looked at her brother and thought of how sweet it would be if he could -see the mists of the morning and the cool cleanness of the night. -Meanwhile he in his dark world wondered how he could find his way to the -witch and persuade her to work her magic, so that his sister might be -able to go up and down, and to skip and dance on limbs that were alive. -So at last they fell to talking, and the end of it all was that they -started on a journey to the witch, the brother carrying the sister on -his shoulder while she guided him safely through thorn-thicket, past -swamps where alligators lay hidden, and through valleys where bushy -palmetto grew shoulder high. Each night they found some cool place where -was a spring of crystal, or a pool of dark sweet water, and at last they -came to the little hills where the witch lived. - -They found that all was as the old man had said, for the witch was a -lonely creature who saw few, because few passed that way. She was glad -enough to see her visitors and led them to a fragrant leafy place, and -seeing that the girl was drooping like a wind-wearied bird, did what -things she could. To the boy she told tales of the birds and the golden -light of the sun and the green of spreading branches, thinking that with -her tales they would be comforted and content to stay with her in her -soft green valley. But the more she did for their comfort and the more -she told them of the wonders of the world, the greater was their desire -to be whole, the girl with her limbs unbound, the boy with his eyes -unsealed. - -Before long the lad told the witch of the old man’s visit and of their -hopes that had led them to take the great journey, and then the old -woman’s heart fell as she saw her dream of companionship vanish. She -knew that as soon as they were whole again they would leave her as the -birds that she fed and tended in nesting time left her when winter came. -Then she told them no more pleasant tales, but tales of things dead and -cold, of gray skies and desert places, of tangled forests where evil -things lived. - -“It is better not to see at all,” she said, “than to see foul things and -heart-searing things.” - -But the boy spoke up and said: - -“There being such things, the more I would have my eyesight, so that I -might clear those tangled forests of the evil beasts of which you -speak.” - -Hearing that, the witch sighed, though her heart was glad at the boy’s -words. So she turned to the girl, telling her of the harm that sometimes -came to those who walked, of the creatures that do violence and scratch -and maul; of stocks and stones that hurt and cut tender feet; of -venomous things that hide under rocks. But the girl heard patiently, -then clasped her hands and said: - -“And that is all the more reason that I ask what I ask, for with feet -light and active I can skip away from the hurtful things, if indeed my -brother does not kill them.” - -“Well,” said the witch, “perhaps when you know the beauty of the place -in which I live, you will be content to stay with me. I must do what you -ask because you are what you are by reason of a wish that went wrong. -Now to get the magic leaves with which to cure you I must take a journey -of a day and a night, and it is part of the magic that those who would -be cured must do a task. So to-morrow while I am away you must work, and -if I find the task finished you shall be cured. But if you should not -finish the task, then all will remain as it is; but I will be eyes for -the boy, telling him of the fine things of the world, and for the girl I -will be as limbs, running for her, working for her. But I shall do and -not wish. Truth is that I would gladly see both of you whole again, but -then you would go away, and I sorely lack companionship.” - -After a little the witch said to the girl: - -“Tell me, little one, if this place were yours what would you do to make -it better to live in?” - -“I would,” answered the girl, “have all the thorn-bushes taken away that -are now in the little forest behind the house, so that Brother could -walk about without being scratched and torn.” - -“That is fair enough,” said the witch. “And you, boy, what would your -wish be?” - -“I would have all the little stones that are in the valley taken away, -so that Sister could play on the soft grass without being hurt.” - -“Well,” said the witch, “it is in the magic that you set your own tasks. -So the boy must have every stone cleared away before I return and the -girl must see to it that there are no more thorn-bushes. Hard are the -things that you have wished.” - -After the witch had gone there was no joy in the hearts of the children, -for it seemed impossible that a blind boy should gather the stones and -no more possible for a lame girl to clear the forest. There was a little -time in which they tried, but they had to give up. So they stood -wondering, and for a moment thought of starting for their own home. - -Suddenly, strange to tell, who should come over the hill but the old man -in the torn poncho, and they were both very glad to see him. After he -had rested awhile they told him their troubles and spoke of their grief -because, in spite of all their efforts, it seemed as though all must -come to naught. - -“I wish——” began the boy, but the old man stopped him with lifted -finger. - -“Wishing never does,” he said. “But help does much and many can help -one.” He put his fingers to his mouth and gave a peculiar whistle, and -at once the sky was darkened with birds and each bird dropped to the -ground, picked up a stone and flew away with it, so that the valley was -cleared in a moment. He gave another whistle and from everywhere came -rabbits which ran into the woods, skipping and leaping, and at once set -to work to gnaw the stems of the bushes. And as soon as the bushes fell, -foxes came and dragged them away, so that in an hour the forest was -clear, and when the witch came back, behold, the set task was done! - -So the witch took the leaves that she had brought and made a brew of -them, giving the liquid to brother and sister to drink. “But,” said she, -“see to it that you speak no word, for if you do before sunset, then -back you go to your old state.” - -Both promised that heartily and drank. But as soon as the boy saw the -green of the grass, and the blue and crimson and purple flowers, and the -humming-birds like living diamonds in the shade, he called out in his -great joy: - -“Oh, Sister, see how beautiful!” and at once he was in utter darkness -again. At the same moment, feeling her limbs strong, the girl was filled -with such delight that she tossed her arms into the air and danced. Then -from her came a keen cry of pain as she heard her brother’s cry and knew -that he was blind again. There was a moment when she wanted to lose all -that she had gained so that she could tell her brother that she shared -his grief, but she remembered that being strong she could help him in -his pain, so she went to him and took him by the hand and kissed his -cheek. - -At sunset the boy, who had been sitting quiet, spoke, turning his -sightless face to the witch. - -“You have tried to be good to us,” he said, “and you have been as kind -as it lay in your power to be. Since Sister is well, I am content. And I -have seen the beauty of the world, though it was in a flash. So, mother -witch, since you have not been able to give us all we ask, we will give -you all that we have. Come, then, to the place where we live and see the -things that we love, the birds and the flowers and the trees, and we -will try in kindness to repay you for what you have done.” - -Hearing that, the witch suddenly burst into singing and hand-clapping -and told them that the spell was broken because she had been befriended. - -“No witch am I,” she said, “but your own mother who did not die, but was -changed to this form for vain wishes.” - -Then the boy regained his sight and the mother became as she had been, -tall and straight and beautiful and kind, and the three of them went to -their old home and lived there for many years, very happy and contented. - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE HUNGRY OLD WITCH - - -SHE was a witch, she was very old, and she was always hungry, and she -lived long ago near a forest where now is Uruguay, and just in the -corner where Brazil and Argentina touch. They were the days when mighty -beasts moved in the marshes and when strange creatures with wings like -bats flew in the air. There were also great worms then, so strong that -they bored through mountains and rocks as an ordinary worm makes its way -through clay. The size and the strength of the old witch may be guessed -when you know that she once caught one of the giant worms and killed it -for the sake of the stone in its head. And there is this about the -stone—it is green in colour and shaped like an arrow-head a little -blunted, and precious for those who know the secret, because he who has -one may fly through the air between sunrise and sunset, but never in the -night. - -The old witch had another secret thing. It was a powder, and the -knowledge of how to make it was hers alone and is now lost. All that is -known of it is that it was made from the dried bodies of tree-frogs -mixed with goat’s milk. With it she could, by sprinkling a little of it -where wanted, make things grow wonderfully. She could also turn plants -to animals with it, or change vines into serpents, thorn-bushes into -foxes, little leaves into ants. Living creatures she also changed, -turning cats into jaguars, lizards into alligators, and bats into -horrible flying things. - -This old witch had lived for hundreds of years, so long indeed that the -memory of men did not know a time when she was not, and fathers and -grandfathers and great grandfathers all had the same tale to tell of how -she had always devoured cattle and pigs and goats, making no account at -all of carrying off in one night all the animals of a village. To be -sure, some had tried to fight her by shooting arrows, but it was of no -use, for by her magic the shafts were bent into a shape like a letter V -as soon as they touched her. So in time it came about that men would put -outside the village in a corral one half of what they had raised in a -year, letting the old witch take it, hoping that thus she would leave -them in peace. - -At last there grew up a lad, a sober fellow of courage, who said little -and thought much, and he refused to take animals to the corral when the -time came for the old witch to visit that place. - -When the people asked him his reason for refusing, he said that he had -had a dream in which he saw himself as a bird in a cage, but when he had -been there a little while a sweet climbing vine had grown up about the -cage and on this vine was a white flower which twisted its way in -between the bars. Then, as he looked at it, the flower changed to a -smiling maiden who held a golden key in her hand. This key she had given -to him and with it he had opened the door of the cage. So, he went on to -say, both he and the maiden had gone away. What the end of the dream was -he did not know, for at that point he had wakened with the sound of -singing and music in his ears, from which he judged that all turned out -well, though he had not seen the end of it. - -Because of this dream and what it might betoken he said that he would -not put anything in the corral for the old witch, but instead would -venture forth and seek her out, to the end that the land might be free -from her witcheries and evil work. Nor could any persuade him to the -contrary. - -“It is not right,” he said, “that we should give away for nothing that -which we have grown and tended and learned to love, nor is it right that -we should feed and fatten the evil thing that destroys us.” - -So the wise men of that place named the lad by a word which means Stout -Heart, and because he was loved by all, many trembled and turned pale -when the morning came on which he took his lance and alone went off into -the forest, ready for whatever might befall. - -For three days Stout Heart walked, and at last came to a place all -grassy and flowery, where he sat down by the side of a lake under a -tree. He was tired, for he had walked far that day and found that -slumber began to overtake him. That was well enough, for he was used to -sleep under the bare heavens, but with his slumber came confused dreams -of harmful things which he seemed to see coming out of the ground, so he -climbed into the tree, where he found a resting-place among the branches -and was soon asleep. - -While he slept there came to the side of the lake the old witch, who -cast her basket net into the water and began to fish, and as she fished -she sang in a croaking and harsh voice this: - - “Things in the air, - Things in the water— - Nothing is fair, - So come to the slaughter.” - -They were not the words, but that is what the words meant. But -unpleasant as was the song, yet it worked a kind of charm, and things -came to her, so that her basket net was filled again and again. The fish -she cast into a kind of wicker cage, of which she had several. - -Soon the croaking song chased sleep from the eyes of Stout Heart, and -looking down he saw the wrinkled crone and the great pile of fish that -she had cast on the bank, and his heart was grieved for two things—one -that there was such waste of good life, the other that he had left his -spear hidden in the grass. He grieved too, a little, because he knew -that on account of his long walk he was weak from hunger and thirst. So -there seemed little that could be done and he sat very still, trusting -that until he was better prepared for action the old witch would not see -him. - -But all his stillness was of no avail. Looking at the shadow of the tree -as it lay upon the surface of the water, she saw the lad’s shadow. Then -she looked up and saw him. Had she had her magic green stone with her, -things would have been far different and this tale all the shorter. But -not having it and being quite unable to climb trees, she said: - -“You are faint and hungry. Come down, come down, good lad, for I have -much here that is good to eat.” - -Hearing that, Stout Heart laughed, knowing that she was not to be -trusted, and he told her that he was very well indeed where he was. So -she tried another trick, spreading on the grass fruits and berries, and -saying in a wheedling voice: - -“Come, son, eat with me. I do not like to eat alone. Here are fresh -fruits and here is honey. Come down that I may talk with you and treat -you as a son, for I am very lonesome.” - -But Stout Heart still laughed at her, although, to be sure, he was a lad -of great appetite and his hungriness increased in him. - -“Have you any other trap to set for me?” he asked. - -Hearing that, the witch fell into a black and terrible rage, dancing -about and gnashing her teeth, frothing at the mouth and hooking her long -nails at him like a cat, and the sight of her was very horrible, but the -lad kept his heart up and was well content with his place in the tree, -the more as he saw her great strength. For in her rage she plucked a -great rock the size of a man’s body from the earth where it was sunk -deep, and cast it at the tree with such force that the tree shook from -root to tip. - -For a moment the old witch stood with knit brows, then she went on her -hands and knees and fell to gathering up blades of grass until she had a -little heap. All the time she was cursing and groaning, grumbling and -snarling like a cat. When she had gathered enough grass she stood up and -began to sprinkle a grayish powder over the grass heap, and as she did -this she talked mumblingly, saying: - - “Creep and crawl—creep and crawl! - Up the tree-trunk, on the branch. - Creep and crawl—creep and crawl! - Over leaf and over twig. - Seek and find the living thing. - Pinch him, bite him, torture him. - Creep and crawl—creep and crawl! - Make him drop like rotting fruit.” - -So she went on, moving about in a little circle and sprinkling the -powder over the grass. Presently the pile of grass began to move as if -it hid some living thing, and soon the grass blades became smaller, -rounded themselves, and turned brown. Then from them shot out fine -hair-like points which became legs, and so each separate leaf turned to -an ant. To the tree they scurried and up the trunk they swarmed, a -little army marching over every leaf and twig until the green became -brown, and louder and louder the old witch screamed, waving her arms the -while: - - “Creep and crawl—creep and crawl! - Up the tree-trunk, on the branch. - Creep and crawl—creep and crawl!” - -The nearer to Stout Heart that they came, the louder she shrieked, -leaping about and waving her long-taloned hands as she ordered: - - “Seek and find the living thing.” - -Then Stout Heart knew that trouble was brewing indeed, for against so -many enemies there was no fighting. For a time he avoided them, but for -a time only, and that by going higher and higher in the tree, crawling -along the branch that hung over the lake, but nearer and nearer the ants -came, and louder she bade them to - - “Pinch him, bite him, torture him.” - -At last there was nothing for it but to drop out of the tree, for he had -been hanging to the end of a branch and the ants were already swarming -over his hands and some running down his arms. So he let go his hold and -went into the lake with a splash, down out of the sunshine and into the -cool green-blue of the waters. He swam a little, trying to get out of -the way before coming up, but had to put his head out soon to get a -breath. Then suddenly he seemed to be in the middle of something that -was moving about strangely, and it was with a sudden leaping of the -heart that he found himself in the old witch’s basket net being drawn -ashore. To be sure, he struggled and tried to escape, but it was of no -use. What with her magic and her strength he was no more in her hands -than is a little fish in the hands of a man. He was all mixed up with -other lake things, with fish and with scum, with water-beetles and -sticky weed, with mud and with wriggling creatures, and presently he -found himself toppled head foremost into a basket, all dazed and weak. -It was dark there, but by the bumping he knew that he was being carried -somewhere. - -Soon he was tumbled into an evil-smelling place and must have fallen -into a trance, or slept. Again, he may not have known what passed -because of the old witch’s enchantments, for when he came to himself he -did not know whether he had been there for a long time or a little. But -soon he made out that he was in a stone house and through a small hole -in the wall saw that the place where the house stood was bare of grass -and full of great gray rocks, and he remembered his dream and thought -that it was all very unlike what had really happened. - -But in that he was not altogether right, for while he was in no cage and -no twining vine with glorious flower was there, yet there was something -else. For after a little while a door opened, and he saw standing in a -light that nearly blinded him with its brightness a maiden full of -winning grace, and light and slender, who stretched out her hand to him -and led him out of the dark into a great hall of stone with a vast -fireplace. Then having heard his story, which brought tears to her blue -eyes, she opened a lattice and showed him a little room where he might -hide. - -“For,” said she, “I also was brought to this place long ago, and when I -came the old witch killed one who was her slave before me. But before -she died she told me the story of the green stone which the witch has, -and also how were used the magic powders. Since then I have been here -alone and have been her slave. But now she will kill me and will keep -you for her servant until she tires of you, when she will catch another. -And so it has been for many, many years, and each one that dies has told -the power of the green stone to the other, though none had dared to use -it.” - -Now hearing all that, Stout Heart was all for running away at once and -taking the maiden from that dreadful place, but just as he opened his -mouth to speak there came to their ears the voice of the old witch. - -“Hide then,” said the maiden, “and all may yet go well. For I must go to -get the green stone by means of which we may fly. With you I will dare. -Alone I was afraid to venture.” - -Even then he hesitated and did not wish to hide, but she thrust him into -a little room and closed the door. Through the wall he heard the witch -enter and throw a pile of wood on the hearth. - -“I have a new prize,” said the ogress. “You I have fattened long enough -and now you must be my meal. One slave at a time is enough for me, and -the lad will do. Go then, fetch pepper and salt, red pepper and black, -and see to it that you lose no time, for I am hungry and cannot wait.” - -The girl went into another room and the witch fell on her knees and -began to build a roaring fire. Soon the maiden reëntered, but running -lightly, and as she passed the old woman she cast on her some of the -magic powder which she had brought instead of salt and pepper. The hag -had no idea that it was the powder that the girl had thrown, and -thinking that she had been careless with the salt and pepper began to -scold her, then getting to her feet took her by the hair, opened the -door of the little room in which Stout Heart was, and little knowing -that the lad was there cast her in, screaming: - -“Stay there, useless one, until I am ready to roast you.” - -The maiden thrust the green stone into the hands of Stout Heart and at -once they flew through the window and out under the arch of the sky. As -for the old witch, the powder did its work and she began to swell so -that she could not pass out of any of the doors. But presently the boy -and girl, from a height at which they could see below them the narrow -valley and the witch house, saw that the old hag was struggling to get -out by way of the roof. - -The two lost no time then. They flew swift and high. But swift too was -the witch. Her growing had finished and out over the top of the house -she burst, and seeing the escaping pair, began to run in the direction -they had taken. - -So there was much speeding both in the air and on the earth, and unlucky -it was for the two that the green stone allowed those who carried it to -fly only in the daytime. All this the maiden told Stout Heart as they -flew. The old witch well remembered that at night there was no power in -the flying stone and was gleeful in her wicked old heart as she watched -the sun and the lengthening shadows. So she kept on with giant strides -and leapings, and going at such a rate that she was always very nigh -under the two in the air. No deer, no huanaco could have bounded lighter -over the ground than she did, and no ostrich could have moved swifter. - -When the sun began to drop in the western sky, and he and she were -looking at one another with concern as they flew, the maiden bethought -her of a plan, and scattering some of the magic powder on the earth she -rejoiced to see that the leaves on which the powder fell turned into -rabbits. The sight of that the witch could not resist, and she stopped a -moment to catch some of the little animals and swallow them, so a little -time was won for the fliers. - -But the hungry old witch soon went on and regained the time she had lost -and was under them again, running as fast as ever. So more powder was -scattered, this time on some thorn-bushes, which changed to foxes. Again -the old woman stopped to eat and the two gained a little. But the sun -was lower and they found themselves dropping ever nearer to the earth, -flying indeed but little higher than the tree-tops, and as they saw, the -old witch in her leaps lacked but little of touching them. - -Ahead of them was the lake in which Stout Heart had been caught, the -waters red as blood with the light of the western sky, but the power of -the stone was failing with the waning day, and of the powder they had -but a small handful left. As for the witch, so near was she that they -could hear her breathing, could almost imagine that they felt her -terrible claws in their garments. - -On the bank of the lake the last handful of the magic powder was cast, -and they saw the grass turn to ants and the stones to great turtles as -they passed over the water, but so low that their feet almost touched -the surface of the lake. The power of the stone was growing weak. - -The old witch, seeing the turtles, stopped to swallow them, shells and -heads, and that gave the youth and maiden time enough to reach the -opposite shore, where the power of the stone was quite exhausted as the -sun touched the rim of the earth. The gentle maiden clung to Stout Heart -in great fear then as they saw the old witch plunge into the lake, for -she could travel on water as fast as she could on land. Indeed, the -fearful old woman cut through the waters so swiftly that a great wave -leaped up on either side of her, and it was clear that before the sun -had gone she would have her claws in the two friends. - -But when she was in the middle of the lake the weight of the turtles she -had swallowed began to bear her down. In vain she struggled, making a -great uproar and lashing her hands and feet so furiously that the water -became hot and a great steam rose up. Her force was spent and the -turtles were like great stones within her, so she sank beneath the -water, and was seen no more. - -Great was the joy of the people when Stout Heart brought the maiden to -his home, for she became his wife and was loved by all there as the -fairest woman among them. - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE WONDERFUL MIRROR - - -THIS is the tale of Suso who was the daughter of a very rich man, a very -kind-hearted one, too. Never was beggar turned from his door, nor in the -length and breadth of his land was there hunger or want. And he loved -Suso no less than she loved him. She was very close to his heart and all -that could be done to make her happy he did. As for her, there was no -pleasure in her day if she was not assured of his happiness. - -When her sister had left home to be married, Suso and her father had -gone about planning a great park which Suso was to have for her own, a -park of terraced, flowered hills. And when it was finished, both birds -and animals came to live there and the air was full of song. So in that -place Suso played with her companions, and their hearts were in tune -with the beauty all about. It was a never-ending pleasure to seek out -new places in the great park, cool nooks in which were little waterfalls -whose silver music mingled with the whispering of the leaves, or shaded -spots where were ponds of crystal water and fountains and seats and -bright green carpets of moss. - -For a long time there was happiness, until, indeed, her father married -again, for her mother had died when Suso was a small child. Then one day -there was a cloud of grief in the maiden’s heart, because on a silent, -moonlit night she had walked with her father and he had told her that he -was troubled with a wasting sickness and feared that he had not long to -live. Some enemy, he said, had cast a spell on him, so that day by day -he grew weaker and weaker and weaker. Wise men and doctors had looked -into the matter, had sat solemnly and thought, had guessed and wondered, -but had agreed on one thing only—that something was wrong. What that -something was they did not know, but they agreed that if the thing that -was wrong could be discovered and removed, all would go well again. -Because of what her father had told her, Suso was sad and often wandered -to a quiet place where she could tell her troubles to the trees. - -The stepmother was not at all fair in her ways and not only disliked -Suso, but was very mean and treacherous, hiding her hatred from the -father and petting Suso when he was near, stroking her hair and saying -pretty things. So well did the wicked woman play her part that nothing -could have made the father believe other than that she loved Suso quite -as much as he did. For instance, on that moonlit night when he had told -his daughter of his trouble, seeing her tears, for she had wept -bitterly, he had said: - -“But Suso, my dove, your mother will care for you tenderly when I am -dead, for she loves you dearly.” - -At that the girl stifled her sobs and dried her tears, lest the father -she loved so well should be wounded by her grief, and seeing her calmed -he had supposed that all was well and that his words had soothed her. - -But see how it really was with Suso and her stepmother. There was one -day, not long after, when father and stepmother and daughter were -standing by the fountain, watching the wavering shadows flying across -the green, when the man suddenly felt a clutching pain at his heart and -was forced to sit down for very weakness. When he felt a little better -and the first sharpness of the pain had gone, Suso walked with him to -the house, and when he was comfortably seated and had a feather robe -cast about him, he bade her return to her stepmother. That she did, -because she was bid, although her wish would have been to sit at his -feet. Because of her unwillingness and her grief she went softly, and -not singing and dancing, as was her fashion. And what was her terror -when she saw and heard the wicked woman talking to a great horned owl -that sat in the hollow of an old tree! So terrible that seemed, that -Suso could find nothing to say, but stood with clasped hands, her heart -a-flutter. Seeing Suso, the woman motioned to the owl and the bird said -no more, but sat listening, its head on one side. Then the stepmother -took Suso by the hand and drew her into a place where they could be seen -by the father, but far enough away to be out of earshot. But the father, -seeing the woman and the maiden standing thus together, was happy, -thinking that his daughter had a friend. It made him happier still to -see the woman take Suso’s arm and pull it gently about her waist. But he -did not hear what was said, for had he heard, it would have cut him to -the heart. - -This is what the woman said, and her voice was like a poison-dart as she -whispered loud enough for the owl to hear: - -“Suso, stand thus with your arm about my waist so that your father may -see us together. Thus he will think that I love you.” Then she hissed in -the girl’s ear: “But I hate you, hate you, hate you.” - -And the owl lifted his head, blew a little and repeated softly: “Hate -you—Hoo!—Hoo!” - -From far off in the woods came the sound of an answering owl like an -echo: “Hate you—Hoo!—Hoo!” and it seemed to Suso that all the world -hated her for no cause, for the screeching parrots, too, repeated the -cry. As for the sweet feathered things that she loved, they had all fled -from that place. - -Soon the stepmother spoke again and the owl dropped to a lower branch -the better to hear. “Suso,” said the woman, “your father cannot live -much longer. The spell is upon him and day by day he nears his death. -Because of that I am glad, for when he dies, all this land, the house, -and all its riches, must be mine.” - -Hearing that vicious speech Suso was well nigh faint with fear and -horror and would have sped to her father to warn him. But the woman -caught her by the wrist, twisting it painfully, and pinched the soft -place on her arm with her other hand, and stooping again so that it -seemed to the watching father that she kissed Suso, she said: - -“But see to it that you say no word, for the moment that you say -anything but good of me, that moment your father will fall dead.” - -So what was Suso to do? - -Thus it was that Suso crept to quiet places and told her tale to the -whispering leaves and to the evening breeze, and thus it was that in the -midst of all that beauty of golden sunlight and silver-glinted waters -and flower-twined forest she could not but be sad. For there were tears -in her heart, and everything that her father did for her was as nothing -and like a crumbling tower. - -But she had told the trees (and trees bend their tops though they are -foot-fast, and leaves, too, whisper one to another), so that the tale -went abroad, though of this, Suso knew nothing. - - II - -Now while all this was going on there lived in the hills far off a -youth, and his name was Huathia. Brown-haired he was and bright-eyed -too, with clear skin and strong arms, and all who knew him said that he -was a good lad and honest. - -He was a herder of goats and llamas, and one day, as he was out in the -vega with his flock, he chanced to see a falcon wheeling high in the -air, carrying something in its beak that sent the rays of the sun -flashing far, like silver light. Then the bird dipped with the thing it -was carrying, looking like a glittering falling star, and Huathia for a -moment lost sight of the bird as it dropped behind a bush. But it soon -rose and took to flight, this time without the shining thing. So Huathia -went to the place where the falcon had dropped, and there at the bottom -of a little stream he saw a bright round piece of silver. The lad -rescued it and looked at it with astonishment as it lay in his hand, a -polished and smooth disc it was, that reflected his face as clearly as a -mirror. So he kept it, wrapping it in a leaf, and took it that night to -the place where the lad lived with another herdsman, a very wise and -good man who knew many strange things, and he told the youth that it was -the wonderful mirror of one called Paracaca, long since dead. He said -that whoever looked in it saw his own face as others saw it, but the -owner of the mirror saw something else, “for,” added he, “with it you -may see the hidden spirit of other people, seeing through the mask they -wear. And if a man has the face of a man but the heart of a fox then -certainly while such a man beholds his own face, you shall see the other -creature in him.” - -Hearing that, the youth Huathia was much amazed at the magic of the -thing and, holding it so that the face of his herder friend was shown in -the mirror, saw, not the rough bearded face of the man alone, all -knotted like a tree-trunk, but a face that was full of kindness and -gentleness, at which he was glad. - -So he placed the wonderful mirror in his bag and carried it about with -him. The next day, while he was leaning against the trunk of a tree and -playing on his flute, he seemed to hear a whispering, and putting his -reed away he listened intently. Still and small, still and small were -the voices that he heard, as tree-head bent to tree-head and leaf -murmured to leaf, but soon he caught the rumour that ran, and learned -the tale that in the country of the rich man there was a creature -timorous and frail, whose gentle heart was heavy with sorrow, and that -an unknown evil brooded dark. - -No time lost he then, seeing that there was something of worth that he -could possibly do, but gave the care of the goats and llamas to his -friend, took his arrows and bow, his bag with a little food and the -wonderful mirror, and after bidding his friend good-bye set off for the -land of the rich man. What was strange was that while all had been -silent in the soft green woods that morning, except for the sound of his -flute, no sooner had he started on his way than a gay chorus came from -the bright birds and the world was full of mirth. So, well content, he -went on his way, a ragged herdsman, but light of heart and strong of -limb and brave. - -Into the land of the rich man he went and came in time to a place where -sat the maiden under a tree, doves at her feet and glittering -humming-birds about her head. When Suso saw the youth her heart leaped -for joy, for she knew him for a kind lad, though never before had she -set eyes on him. - -“Are you a beggar and poor?” she asked. “For here there is plenty for -all.” - -“I am no beggar,” he answered, “and for myself I am well content with -what I have. But it has been whispered about the world and I have heard -the tale, that there is a great sorrow upon you, and that some unknown -evil is destroying the beauty and the bliss of this place, so I have -come to do what is to be done.” - -At that Suso said no more but rose up and took Huathia by the hand and -led him to her father. It was a day on which the good man was very weak, -but seeing that his daughter was pleased with her new companion he -ordered his servants to spread a table under the trees, and the three of -them had a feast of goat’s milk and fruit, and cassava bread, though the -father could eat but little. Then Huathia took his flute and played -sweet music until the world seemed full of peace, and gripping grief had -vanished. Suso, too, sang sweetly, so that for a moment the father -thought that the shadow that was upon him was but a dream and might -pass. - -They talked long and long, the three of them, and Huathia learned much -about the rich man’s failing strength, whereupon it came to him somehow, -that by means of his wonderful mirror he might perchance discover what -evil thing was about that place. To him the rich man said: - -“If with this mirror you can find the hidden evil thing and can restore -my strength again, then there is nothing too great that I own which may -not be yours for the asking.” - -“There is but one thing I want,” said Huathia. “For I love Suso the -gentle and would marry her.” - -The rich man thought long after this speech, stroking the hair of Suso -who sat at his knee, for it had not entered into his mind that his -daughter might be the gift which the youth demanded as his price. But -looking at the maiden he saw that her eyes were cast down, though for a -moment they had looked up swiftly as Huathia spoke. Then, too, it was -certain that since the youth had been there, the song of the birds was -louder in the thicket and the green of the trees brighter. - -So the father said thoughtfully: “If you find the cause of the trouble -that is upon me and relieve it so that I am healed again, then you may -have my daughter for your wife, though you must promise me that you will -stay in this place.” - -That, Huathia promised readily enough, and stooped to Suso and kissed -her, and having done so, went away to the dark pool in the woods to -sleep, at the very moment the stepmother came out of the house to join -her husband and his daughter. - - III - -As it happened that night, there was a thin new moon, and the youth -slept but little because of the croaking noise made by the frogs. -Presently, full awake, he sat up, and it seemed to him that the air was -full of noise, not only of frogs but of the hooting of owls and the -whirring of bats, and looking he saw the strange sight of a great white -toad with two heads, and presently about that fearful thing other things -gathered. From rock and hole came unclean creatures, abominable serpents -and centipedes and great gray spiders, and all these gathered in a -circle, the two-headed toad in the centre. With wide-open eyes Huathia -watched, although the sight of so much that was noisome came near to -benumbing and stupefying him, and incomplete shapes seemed to be looking -at him with evil eyes from the black depth of the forest. - -Soon the owl began to mourn and the song fell into words and the youth -heard this: - - “Who knows where hides our queen? Hoo! Hoo!” - -And first one creature and then another answered: - - “The toad, our queen, lies hid unsought - Beneath the stone that men have wrought.” - -And so it went on, a mad and horrible concert, with bat and owl and -great ghost-moth whirling about on silent wings, until sickened of it -all Huathia rose up and clapping his hands to his ears fled from the -place. And when he had gained a quiet and lonely spot he sat down, but -in his ears rang what he had heard: - - “The toad, our queen, lies hid unsought - Beneath the stone that men have wrought.” - -So he wondered and wondered where could be the stone that men had -wrought, and the story that men had told of a great temple on the -mountains came to him. But that place seemed too far away. - -When it was full day the youth went to the house, and in time the rich -man came forth and greeted him. Then came the stepmother, who fixed her -large dark eyes on Huathia, not looking at him straight, but sideways. -Suso came shortly afterward and the youth could not take his eyes from -her. It seemed to him that she was the most beautiful of living things -as she sat on her stool by the side of her father, her hair touched by -the golden light so that it seemed to be as full of ripples as a -sun-kissed brook. So there was pleasant talk while they ate, and, after, -a drinking-in of soft music as Huathia played on his flute. Suso sang -when Huathia had finished, and though her song had a touch of sadness in -it, it seemed to her pleased father that all on earth that was soft and -shapely and fair was gathered there in that garden, until catching the -eye of his wife he was reminded that his life was flowing away, and the -old grief came upon him. - -Somehow talk fell upon Huathia and his mirror and the strange way in -which he had found it, and he took it from his bag. As he looked in it, -Suso came and stood behind him, so that he saw the reflection of her -face and the true picture of herself, and there was a gentleness there, -the gentleness of the dove and the purity of the flower. The rich man -came, too, looking over Huathia’s shoulder and saw his own reflection. -But what the youth saw was a face that denoted great bravery and -kindness. Seeing all this the stepmother stretched her hand across the -table and took the mirror, gazing at the picture of her own dark beauty. -Then Huathia stepped to her side and looked into the disc. He saw, not -the dark eyes and night-black hair that she saw, not the face of a proud -woman, but the face of a toad, and when she held the polished silver -further off, the better to see, the toad-face changed, so that he saw a -double-headed toad. But of that she knew nothing and did not even guess -that he knew her for a vile witch and no true woman. And as she -continued to gaze and her thoughts wandered, so did new things come into -the picture that Huathia saw, and he beheld about her neck two writhing -white snakes, a sight so horrible that he could scarcely hold his -countenance or prevent himself from calling out. Having seen to her -content, the woman rose from her stool and left the room. - -The rich man, already tired, for his night’s sleep did not revive him, -stood up and beckoned to the youth to give him an arm. Suso supported -him on the other side and so they walked slowly to a seat beneath a -great flowering bush near the house. Having found his seat and being -wrapped in his feather mantle by Suso, he asked the youth to play the -flute again. Huathia was ready and willing, but somehow the memory of -the two-headed toad and the two white snakes made him nervous, and when -he put his flute to his lips no sweet sounds came, but instead rude -noises like the hissing of snakes and the croaking of frogs and the -screeching of parrots. Even Suso stopped her ears and her father bade -the youth cease his noise. - -“Are you of those who make my last days the wearier with your noises?” -he asked sorrowfully. Then he added: “For many nights I have dreamed of -toads with two heads and of snakes that hung over me, and now you come -with your flute and the noises that such evil things make. I had -expected better of you, Huathia, seeing that I have treated you as a -son.” - -Huathia earnestly assured him that he had no wish to do other than to -make music, and he ended by saying: “There is, I am sure, some -enchantment in this place, for though the sun is warm I feel a chill, as -if some clammy thing enfolded me.” - -He shivered as he spoke, though he was a lad whose blood ran warm; not -afraid, not given to idle fancies. Of a sudden his eyes fell upon a -large grindstone that lay near by. It was a stone so great that two men -could hardly make shift to raise it, and so it had been left there for -years and grasses had grown about it. But when Huathia saw it, there -leaped into his mind the song that he had heard: - - “The toad, our queen, lies hid unsought - Beneath the stone that men have wrought.” - -It had meant little in the night, but in a flash he saw that the -grindstone was a stone wrought by men. So fitting an arrow to his bow he -handed the weapon to Suso, telling her to shoot whatever evil thing was -discovered when he lifted the stone. With a great effort he raised the -stone suddenly, heavy though it was, lifting it high above his head, and -there, in a hollow place where the stone had been, sat a large, white, -double-headed toad. - -“Shoot, Suso, shoot!” commanded the father. “Let not that evil thing -escape. It is the creature that torments me at night.” - -Swift flew the arrow and it pierced the body of the toad. At the same -moment there fell from the roof of the house two monstrous white -serpents where they had lain hidden. Like lightning Huathia, having -seized the bow, sent two arrows flying, and each serpent was cut into -halves. In less than three moments three evil things died, and it was -like the sun coming from a cloud-veil, the way in which joy came to that -place. The weakness of the father fell from him like a cloak. The bodies -of the toad and the snakes withered and shrivelled, and as a light -breeze sprang up, what was left of them was blown away as dust. There -were soft stirrings in the thicket and the whole world burst into song. -So both father and daughter knew then that the witcheries were gone and -the evil creatures vanished for ever, and that all the trouble that had -been upon that place came from the wicked stepmother. - -So youth and maiden were married, and the father soon regained his -health and strength, and in all the world there were no happier people -than they. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE TALE OF THE LAZY PEOPLE - - -IN Colombia, it seems, there were always monkeys, or if not always, at -least as far as the memory of man goes. An old historian named Oviedo -noted that and wrote: “When the Christians make an expedition to the -interior and have to pass by woods, they ought to cover themselves well -with their bucklers . . . for the monkeys throw down nuts and branches -at them. . . . I knew one, a servant. This man threw a stone at a -monkey, who caught it and returned it with such force that it knocked -out four or five of Francisco’s teeth, and I know this to be true for I -often saw the said Francisco, always without his teeth.” - -Now one day a man told me the tale of the monkeys, and he talked and -talked as he smoked, until the stars came out and shone clear and steady -and the air was heavy with perfume, and owls and bats floated strangely, -as they will do, and when he had finished he still talked, taking up -forgotten ends of his tale and winding in and about, making a long -affair of a short matter. But then he had nothing else to do but to talk -and was mighty pleased, it seemed, to have someone to listen to him. -Then, when we should have been sleeping, he went on talking, picking out -a piece of the tale here and another piece there, and explaining until I -was well nigh like to get the story tangled myself. But here is the meat -of it: - -Long, long ago there were no monkeys, and the trees were so full of -fruit, and the vines of grapes, that the people became lazy, and at last -did little but eat and sleep, being too idle to carry away the rinds and -skins of the fruit that they lived on, and certainly too lazy to clean -their thatched houses. - -It was very pleasant at first, but soon not so pleasant, for winged -things that bit and stung came in thousands to feed on the things thrown -aside, and they, too, grew lazy, finding so much to eat ready at hand, -and when people tried to brush them away there was a loud and angry buzz -and much irritated stinging, so that soon every one was wonder-struck, -not knowing exactly what to do. For a time it seemed easier to move the -little village to a new spot and to build new houses, for the dwellings -were light affairs and in a day or less a good house could be built. But -then they lived by a lake from which the water for drinking was taken, -and as it was but a little body of water, it was not long before the -people had built right round the still pool and so were back again at -the starting place. As for the stinging flies, they were soon worse than -the mosquitoes, while a great wasp with pink head and legs and bands of -black and gold on its body, though very pretty to see, was worst of all. -So it was no easy matter to know what to do, and there was much talk and -much argument, and all that the people agreed on was that something had -to be done, and that, very soon. - -One day there came to the village a queer and rather faded kind of man, -ragged and tattered and torn as though he had scrambled for miles -through the thorn-bush forest. He had rough yellow hair, and queer -wrinkles at the corners of his eyes which made him look as if he were -smiling. It was late in the afternoon when he came and the people were -taking their rest after the noon meal, so no one took much notice of him -although he went here and there, looking at things, and so walked round -the lake. But the curiosity of everyone was excited when he was seen to -make a basket, which he did quickly, and then commence to gather up the -fruit skins and rinds in one place. Now and then some one or other -raised himself in his hammock, with a mind to talk to him, but it seemed -almost too much trouble, and when some great blue-winged butterfly -fluttered past or some golden-throated humming-bird flashed in the -sunlight, their eyes wandered away from the old man and they forgot him -again. So the sunlight died and the forest was a velvet blackness and -everyone slept, though the old man still worked on, and the next morning -when the people awoke he was still working diligently, though he had but -a small place cleared after all. - -The very thought that any one would work all night made the head man -shiver with a kind of excitement, yet he was very curious to know why -the stranger went to so much trouble, seeing that he neither lived there -nor was of the lake men. At the same time it made his spirit droop to -think that if the place was to be cleared up, he and everyone else had a -mountain of work in sight. So Tera, the head man, called to Cuco, who -was his servant, telling him to bring the stranger to him, and Cuco, who -was very respectful, said that he would attend to it. Then Cuco did his -part by calling Yana and delivering the message to him. And Yana in turn -told his servant, Mata, who told his servant, Pera, who told his -servant, Racas, who told a boy, so that at last the message reached the -old man. Then back went the old man, handed by the boy to Racas, by -Racas to Pera, by Pera to Mata, by Mata to Yana, and by Yana to Cuco, so -that at last he stood before Tera, the head man, and the others, being -curious to know what was afoot, gathered about. - -“What is your name, from where do you come, and what do you want?” asked -Tera, putting his three questions at once, to save trouble. Then the -head man looked at those about him with a little frown, as much as to -say, “Note how wisely I act,” and each man who had heard, seeing that -the head man looked his way, nodded at his neighbour, as though calling -attention to the wisdom of the head man, so all went very well. But the -little old man stood there very simply, making no fuss at all and quite -unimpressed with the greatness of the great man. - -“I want to work,” he answered. “I want to be told what you want done and -to see that it is done.” - -To be sure, the language that he spoke was one new to those who -listened, but somehow they seemed to understand. But the thing that he -said they found truly astonishing and could hardly believe their ears. -But the head man, though as astonished as any one there, quickly -regained his composure and asked this question: - -“What is your trade?” - -“I have no trade,” said the old man. “But I get things done.” - -“What kind of things?” - -“All kinds of things.” - -“Do you mean big things, like house-building and all that?” asked the -head man. - -“Yes. And little things too, which are really big things when you come -to consider,” said the old man, but that seemed an odd if not a silly -thing to say, the head man thought. - -“Little things left undone soon become big things,” explained the old -man, and waved his hand in the direction of a heap of fruit skins and -husks near by. - -“Yes. Yes. But you must not preach to us, you know,” said Tera a little -testily. “Tell me the names of the trades you have.” - -So the little old man began to tell, naming big things and very little -things, things important and things not important at all, and having -finished, asked very politely whether any one there had anything to be -done. As for pay he said that he wanted none at all and would take none, -and he said that because some of those gathered about him began offering -him things. - -For instance, Pera said: “If you work for me, I will let you have one -fish out of every ten that you catch, for I am a fisherman.” And Racas -pushed him aside, saying: “But I will do better, for I am supposed to be -fruit gatherer and will give you two things for every ten you gather.” -And so it went, each bidding higher than his neighbour, until it came to -the turn of the man whose duty it was to gather the rinds and fruit -skins. He said, “I will let you have, not one out of ten, nor two out of -ten, nor five out of ten that you gather, but ten out of ten, if you -will work for me.” At that the old man said quite positively that he -would take no pay at all. - -No more was said then and the little old man turned away without as much -as bowing to the head man, seeing which the head man waved his hand and -said: “You may go, and so that you will lose no time, you need not bow -to me.” And all the rest gathered there said very hastily: “Nor need you -bow to me, either.” - -The old man took small notice of any one, but went away singing, for he -had a gay, light-hearted disposition, and having reached the place he -had cleared, he took flat pieces of wood and began cutting out figures -like little men, and each figure had a kind of handle that looked like a -long tail. Nor did he cease whittling until he had made at least twenty -wooden figures for each man in the village. Being finished he stood up -to stretch his legs and straighten his back, and when the people asked -him what the little figures were for, he shrugged his shoulders but -spoke never a word. Then he lifted the figures that he had made, one by -one, and set them upright in the sand until there was a long row of -them, and took his place in front of them, like a general before his -army. It was beautiful to look at, for one figure was as like another as -one pin is like another, and for a moment even the old man stood -admiring the line. After a moment he waved his hand in a peculiar way, -spoke some magic word, and waved his hand again, at which each of the -figures came to life and nodded its head, seeing which all the people -laughed and clapped their hands. The ragged man bade them make no noise, -but watch. - -“Since you do not like to work,” he said, “I have made twenty figures -for each of you, and they will work for you without pay, doing what you -require them to do; only observe this, you must not give any figure more -than one particular job. And now let each man or woman clap his hands -three times, then call out the name of the thing to be done.” - -When he had said this, the figures started running, twenty gathering in -a circle about each man there, bowing from the hips and straightening -themselves again, so that their tails of wood went up and down like -pump-handles. - -“Now see,” said the ragged man, “you have things to work for you, and as -I call out, the figures will stand forth, each ready to do his task.” -And he began calling, thus: - -“Armadillo hunters, stand forth!” and a hundred and more active figures -ran together like soldiers. - -So he named others in order as: - -Bread makers. - -Cassava gatherers. - -Despolvadores, who would gather up dust. - -Esquiladors, who would shear the goats. - -Farsante men, whose work was to amuse tired men. - -Guardas, to keep order about the place. - -Horneros, or bakers. - -Industriosos, who were to do odd jobs everywhere. - -Jumentos, whose work it was to carry burdens. - -Labradores, to do heavy work and clear away garbage. - -Moledores, to grind the corn. - -Narradores, who told stories, related gossip and so on. - -Olleros, or pot makers. - -Pocilga figures, to attend to the pigs. - -Queseros, to make cheese from goat’s milk. - -Rumbosos, or proud-looking things to walk in parades. - -Servidores, or food carriers. - -Trotadores, to run errands. - -Vaqueros, to attend to the cows. - -So everyone was well pleased and each one had his twenty figures to do -all that needed to be done, and all that day there was a great scraping -and cleaning and carrying and currying and hurrying and scurrying. -Silently the little figures worked, never stopping, never tiring, never -getting in one another’s way, and all that the living people had to do -was to rest and watch the men of wood, and keep their brains free for -higher things. For it must be remembered that before the old man came -there with his wonderful gift, the people had complained that there was -so much to be done that they had no time to write poems or to make songs -or to create music, and that with the daily tasks abolished their brains -would be more active. - -Not two days had passed before the children of the place complained that -they did not have a chance and that they had so much to do, what with -hunting for things lost, looking after their small brothers and sisters, -keeping things in order, trying to remember things they were told, -cleaning things, and a dozen other tasks, that they really had no time -to play, much less to study. So they went in a body to the old man and -asked him to give each child twenty figures to do odd things. There was -a great deal of fire and expression in his eyes when he made answer that -if the children really needed help he would lose no time in providing -it. But the young people were quite positive that they were overworked, -and the long and short of it was that the old man whittled out many, -many more figures, and in another twenty-four hours each and every boy -and girl had his own: - -Abaniquero, or fan maker, so that none had to pluck a palm leaf. - -Baliquero figure, to carry letters and messages. - -Cabrero, to look after the goats. - -Desalumbrado, to hunt for things in the dark. - -Enseñador, or private teacher, who was never to scold. - -Florista, to save them the trouble of gathering flowers. - -Guasón figure, to amuse them. - -Hojaldarista, whose work it was to make cakes. - -Juego figure, to arrange games. - -Keeper of things. - -Lector, to read and tell stories. - -Mimo, to act as clown. - -Niñera, to look after younger children. - -Obediencia figure, to make others obey. - -Postor, to buy things for them. - -Quitar figures, to take things away when children tired. - -Recordación figures, or rememberers. - -Solfeadors, to sing to them. - -Tortada men, to make pies. - -Volantes, as servants. - -So things seemed to be going very well, and before a month had passed in -all that place there was not a thing out of order, soiled, broken, bent, -lost, misplaced, undone, unclean, or disorderly. Neither man nor woman -nor child had to worry; dinners were always prepared, fruits gathered, -beds made, houses in perfect order, and all was spick and span. All that -the grown-up people had to do was to look on, and no one was proud of -the order in his house because every other house in the place was as -orderly. As for the children, they had nothing at all to do but to eat, -drink, rest, and sleep. Then, presently, more figures were called for as -this one or that wanted a larger house, a finer garden, or grander -clothes. - -But as the wooden figures became more numerous and as no figure could do -more than one task, the ragged man had to make figures for the figures -and servants for the servants, for as things went on, there had to be -more fruit gatherers, more water carriers, more scavengers, more cooks, -because the figures had to eat and drink. Thus it came to pass that -before long, instead of their being twenty figures for each man, there -were sixty or seventy, with new ones coming from the old man’s knife -every day. Soon the lively manikins were everywhere, inside houses as -well as outside, thick as flies in summer and certainly a great deal -more persistent, for there could be no closing of doors against the -manikins. Indeed, had anything like that been attempted there would have -been a great cry for special door-openers. So, many houses were quite -cluttered with wooden men, those who were on duty rushing about until it -made the head swim to look at them, and those who were resting or -sleeping, for soon they learned to rest and to sleep, lying about the -floors, piled up in corners, or hanging to rafters by their tails. All -that increase in help had made for the production of a thousand or more -guardas, whose task it was to keep order, and they were everywhere, -alert and watchful and officious, and the real people had to step about -very gingerly sometimes, to avoid treading on them and annoying them. - -At last there came a day when the people began to grow a little tired of -doing nothing, and they told one another that a little help was a very -good thing, but help in excess, too much of a good thing altogether. So -there was a meeting and much talk and the manikin narradors, whose duty -it was to carry gossip and the news, were very busy, rushing from here -to there with their scraps of information. - -“It is very clear that something must be done,” said Tera, the head man. - -“But everything _is_ being done,” answered the little old man. “If -_everything_ is done, something _must_ be done.” - -“I did not mean that,” said Tera, who seemed a little testy. “I meant to -say that these wooden men must be kept in their places.” - -“But they _are_ in their places,” replied the old man. “Their place is -everywhere because they do everything, so they are in their places.” - -“You see, the days are so very long, so very dull,” said the man who -wished to have time that he might become a poet. “At the shut of day we -are not weary.” - -“We do not want to be petted,” said another. - -“The trouble is,” sighed a fat man, “you can’t be happy when everything -is done for you.” - -“And we don’t want to be nobodies,” shouted another. - -Another said very mournfully: “It seems to me that when these wooden -things do things with our things, then the things that they do and make -and care for are not our things.” - -“Too many ‘things’ in that speech,” said the fat man. - -“Well, there are too many things,” answered the other. “Look at me. I -used to be gardener and now I’m nothing. When my garden is dug and -planted and tended and watered and the very flowers plucked by these -wooden things, and when other wooden things pick up the leaves and pull -the weeds and do everything, then my garden does not seem to be mine.” -He added after awhile: “I hope you know what I mean, because it is not -very clear to me, yet it is so. I remember——” - -At that the little old man put up his hand and said: “But that is -against the contract. You must not try to remember, really you must not, -because there are manikins to do all the remembering, if you please.” - -“Well, but I think——” began the man, when he was again interrupted. - -“Please do not think,” said the little old man. “We have things to do -the thinking, if you please.” He thought for a moment, his bent -forefinger on his lips, then he said: “I’ll see what can be done. It is -clear that you are not satisfied, although you have everything that you -asked for and certainly all the time that you want.” - -“Let us do something,” murmured Tera. - -“I’m afraid there is nothing that you can do,” said the little old man, -“because, as you see, everything is done, and when everything is done it -is quite clear that something cannot be left to be done. The only thing -that is clear is that there is nothing to be done.” - -At that the meeting broke up and each went to his own hammock to think -things over, and soon the general cry was: “We must have elbow room.” -And hearing that, the little old man went to work and whittled more -figures of wood, a whole army of them, ten for each living man, woman, -and child, and in voices that creaked like wooden machinery they marched -hither and thither, crying: “Elbow room. Elbow room!” - -Soon there was confusion. It was manikin against manikin for a time, the -Elbow-room-ers thrusting and pushing the other working manikins, some -going about their work with frantic haste, others interfering with them, -clutching at them and at the things they carried, a tangled knot of them -sometimes staggering, to go down with a crash. Soon in every house was a -jangling tumult, manikins and men running about in houses and dashing -out into the open spaces outside; the noise of slamming doors and -breaking pots; the clamour of animals. Above all could be heard -everywhere cries of “We want elbow room! We want elbow room!” Soon men -were running away from the houses with those strange swift manikins -hanging to them sometimes beating them, while other manikins threw -things out of the doors and through windows, food and household things. -And excited children fled too, while their manikins ran at their sides, -some chattering, some acting the clown as was their duty, some telling -stories as they ran, while other strange little figures of wood ran -bearing heavy burdens. It was all a dreadful mix-up with no one knowing -what to do, no one knowing where to go, and everywhere the manikins who -were guardas, or order keepers, ran about, tripping people and manikins -alike in the effort to stop the rush. But when the day was near its end -there were no people in the houses and the hammocks swung idly, for all -the men and women and children, even the white-haired grandfathers and -grandmothers, had fled to the further side of the lake, where they could -have elbow room, leaving the houses and all that was in them to the -manikins. - -The next day, the people plucked their fruit for themselves and it -seemed as though fruit was never sweeter. The water that they carried -from the lake tasted better and cooler than water had for many a long -day, and when night came they were happily tired and slept well, without -any manikin to swing their hammocks and sing to them. And in the morning -they woke early to discover the pink and gold of the sunrise most -wonderful to see, and there was music in the sound of the wind among the -grasses. So as the day passed they were both amazed and astonished at -the wonderful and beautiful things that they had almost forgotten, the -sight of butterflies fluttering from flower to flower, the shadows -chasing across the hills, the richness of the green earth and the -blueness of the sky, the gold of sunlight on the leaves, the rippling -water and the bending trees; indeed the memory of the manikin days was -like a fearful nightmare. Very light-hearted then they grew and the -world was full of the music of their laughter and song, and briskly they -worked, enjoying it all, building new houses and making things to put in -them. - -Meanwhile in the village things had gone queerly. For one thing the -Elbow-room-ers kept up their crowding and pushing, so that the manikins -trying to work at their old tasks (and there were many who went on just -as before) were sadly hindered. There were other figures of wood with -nothing to do, since the people they served were gone, and these fell to -quarrelling among themselves and grew mischievous. For instance, the pot -makers and the pot cleaners fell out, and the pot cleaners started to -break the pots so that the pot makers would have more work to do. That -meant that the clay gatherers and the clay diggers had to work harder, -then because they worked harder, though to be sure all their work meant -nothing and was little more than idle bustle, they grew hungrier and -wanted more to eat. Because of all that the fruit gatherers had more to -do and the water carriers had to work harder and the cassava bread -makers had to bake as they had never baked before. That brought the fire -builders into it, and of course the wood gatherers also, for they too -had to work harder and to eat more, so still more work came on the food -bringers. And all the time the Elbow-room-ers rushed about, always in -groups of ten, driving and commanding, rushing on workers and sweeping -them aside. So everywhere were little figures hurrying one after the -other, going to and fro, busy about nothing, quarrelling about nothing, -fighting about nothing. - -The trouble came when the Elbow-room-ers interfered with the dogs and -the cats, the goats and the hens, pushing and hustling them. For the -animals, disliking all the disorder and clatter, fell upon the manikins, -workers and idlers alike. Seeing that, the household utensils took a -hand and the very pots and kettles ran or rolled or fell, spilling hot -water over the wooden things with pump-handle tails. The very embers -from the fires leaped into the fray. All the while from the metates in -which the corn had been ground came a low growling, and the growling -formed itself into words: - - Day by day you tortured us— - Grind, grind, grind. - - Holi! Holi! - Huqui! Huqui! - Grind, grind, grind. - - Bring to us the torturers— - Grind, grind, grind. - - Let them feel our power now— - Grind. _Grind._ G R I N D ! - -So the metates turned and turned, going round and round without hands, -and presently an Elbow-room-er that was struggling with a corn-grinder -stumbled, and both fell between the grinding stones and in a moment were -crushed to powder. In a flash house utensils and animals learned the new -trick, and in every house manikins were pushed into the grinding stones. -Then sparks began to fly and roofs to catch on fire and manikins bolted -here and there in confusion, sometimes jamming in doorways, there were -so many and all in such disorder. Then came dazzling, flickering -lightning and a great rain, so that for very safety the manikins fled to -the forest and climbed the trees. And there they have lived ever since, -for they grew hair and became monkeys. But the remembrance of all that -passed stayed with them, and in their hearts to this very day is no love -for man, and for that very reason when a Christian passes through a -forest he must look well to himself, lest the manikins in revenge try to -hurt him by casting nuts and branches at his head. - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - RAIRU AND THE STAR MAIDEN - - -PERHAPS my friend Pedro of Brazil told me the story of Rairu and the -Star Maiden for much the same reason that hungry men fall to talk of -meals that they have eaten. When I say hungry men I do not mean men with -an appetite, but men who have long been on the verge of -starvation—shipwrecked sailors, men lost in the desert, and such like. -The truth is that what the heart hungers for, the tongue talks of. So my -friend Pedro told me many tales of his own warm land where spice-laden -breezes blow gently soft, and at the time he told me his tales we two -were in the midst of the snows of Tierra del Fuego, when the winds -shrieked like a thousand demons and the frost-giant had bound river and -lake. - -We were gold digging on the upper Santa Maria and there came without -warning a fierce blizzard, the snow falling for the best part of two -days and two nights, and in the morning we could not move from our tent, -though we had pitched it in a quiet nook of the hills. We had little to -eat, nothing to read, and no light but the fire-glow, and the world -seemed to narrow about us, the mountains to close in and the leaden sky -to drop. And all the while Pedro talked of his gentler land, telling me -the glory of hills all purple and green, of sunlit waters and -flower-crowned children. So, soon we forgot the black south wind and the -destroying cold. Pedro half forgot, I think, that hope which led him to -the Far South; it was a hope long cherished, that he might find gold -enough to enable him to live in quiet in his own land among the books -that he loved. - -However, you may think this wearisome talk, judging it better that I -tell the tale told by Pedro. But I have felt it best to set it down as I -have, because Pedro never saw his own land again; so the writing of the -story is in some measure done in affection for my friend. As soon as the -snow ceased to fall he went away on foot, our horses having wandered -before the storm, and his intention was to win his way to a shack some -eight miles away where he might get some food which we needed sorely -enough. I in the meantime, we agreed, would take my rifle and try to -shoot a huanaco or some other thing. But another storm came on and it -was not until five days had passed in search that I found Pedro. And he -was frozen. - -As I write I see the scene again—the snow-swept hills, the gray sky, -the white-laden bushes, and Pedro. I made what haste I could to bury him -in the ice-bound earth and put up a rough cross to mark the place, and I -had barely finished when a white storm swept up and hid both mound and -cross. - -Here is the tale he told, one of many, and he said that he had heard it -often and often when he was a child. - - _The Tale_ - -Of all things, nothing pleased Rairu more than to watch the ways of the -living things of the forest, to bend over a flower and drink in its -beauty, to lie by the side of a leaf-hidden pool and follow some shaft -of sunshine as it shot to the depth, or to stand breathless when a wild -bird broke into song. His father, very bitter against what he deemed -idleness, often said harsh things, telling Rairu that he would do well -to attend to matters more enduring. Still, Rairu was what he was. Before -the sunlight came over the world he would seek the forest deeps and -there, hidden in green thickets, would lose himself in the music of the -birds. And as time passed and Rairu grew into young manhood another joy -came to him, and the glory of the star-sprinkled sky filled him with -wonder. Night after night he would wait in a favourite place by a little -cascade, a place bare of trees, eagerly impatient for the soft light of -the first star in the violet sky. - -Watching thus Rairu found a thought rise in his mind, a thought that the -world would be well only when that order was among men which was in the -skies. More, it seemed to him that of all living creatures that walked -the earth man was the most destructive, the most wasteful, and the most -untrustful. Then one night as he lay at the foot of a palm tree, his -heart was full of gladness because of the song of a night-bird, and it -came to him somehow to believe that the stars sang to the bird as the -bird sang to the stars, so he looked up to find, if possible, which star -heard that bird, and he saw one that hung low, one far more beautiful -than her fellows. Thereafter, when the sky grew soft and dark, his eyes -sought the Silver One and he waited until the night-bird sang. Like -jewels, like living sparks of sound, the music went up, and like a -maiden the Silver One listened. When the star dropped in the west and -the song-bird ceased, then Rairu was sad and alone, alone as one in a -seagirt land whom none may visit. - -One day, it was a day of cloud-flecked sky and humming life, Rairu met -an old man, thin-haired and bearded, and the stranger hailed him, -calling him by name. After some talk, much of which seemed riddlesome to -the lad, the old man asked him what of all things, had he his wish, -would he choose. - -After thinking awhile, Rairu said: - -“If the Silver One would come from her place in the sky and go with me -so that I might admire her beauty both day and night, I would be the -happiest man on earth.” - -Hearing that, the old man bade Rairu go to sleep that night on a high -hill which was not far away. “And,” said he, “if it be that you desire -the Silver One for her beauty alone and not that others may envy you in -your possession, then it may be that your wish shall be granted.” No -more he said, but walked away, singing to himself softly as he went. - -All that day Rairu spent in the forest, eager for the night and the -stars, and in the noonday heat sat in the shade of the trees with eyes -fast closed, trying to make a song in which he might tell the world of -the Silver One and her great beauty, for it vexed him that so few looked -to her; but no words came to him to satisfy. Only this, which he thought -but a poor thing: - - When men sorrow and rage, - When the hearts of men grieve, - When arrows of sharp words wound, - When there is none to pity pain, - In the order of heaven there is sweet delight. - - In the night hushed and still, - When is neither weeping nor laughter, - In the night-time between two empty days, - The Silver One is riding in the sky - Singing hand in hand with her sister stars, - Singing, because the life of men is an empty dream. - -When darkness was about to spread he went up the rocky path to the -hilltop, as the old man had bidden him, and lay there looking at the -opal fires in the western sky, watching the change to sea-green and -gold, from orange to pink, and waiting, waiting until the stars should -come forth. Now and then he sang the lines of the song he had made, the -last lines: - - In the night-time between two empty days, - The Silver One riding in the sky - Singing hand in hand with her sister stars, - Singing, because the life of men is an empty dream. - -When at last the stars pricked the dark, great was his grief to find -that the Silver One was not among them. He searched well, thinking that -she hid perhaps behind a leaf, but soon he knew that her sisters went -their way alone. Long and long he looked, and at last, wearied and sad -at heart, fell asleep, weeping that he had lost the thing to him most -dear. - -As he slept he dreamed that the earth was bathed in a great white light, -a light that was both light and music, at which he became wonderfully -happy. He dreamed that he was lifted up as on a cloud, lifted up high -into the heavens and could see, far below him, countless sweetly turning -spheres of light; and across great dark spaces and gulfs of blackness -were other and new stars; and from the edge of nothingness to the edge -of nothingness all was a-tune. Still, for all that, his heart was heavy, -because in all that stardust there was no Silver One. What was most -strange was this: though his heart was heavy, yet a joy was in him, a -sad joy for that he felt himself as a tight-stretched golden string that -quivered in tune with the music all about. So he awoke and saw standing -by his side a maiden clothed in white, whose eyes looked into his heart -with deep love. - -“Arise, Rairu,” said she, “for I have come to cheer and to comfort. I am -the Silver One and you may keep me with you.” So saying she became -small, small but none the less beautiful, so small indeed that she might -have stood in the palm of Rairu’s hand. - -Then Rairu was the happiest of mortals. He cast about him for a casket -in which to keep his treasure, but finding none worthy, bethought him of -his gourd, a thing which he had carved and adorned with much excellent -skill. Having cleaned it well, so well that not a grain of dust was in -it, he set it on the ground on its side in a clean place and the Silver -One stepped into it, resting lightly on a bed of light-green moss. All -that day Rairu went about, now and then taking the cover from the gourd -to look within and gaze with delight at the eyes of the Silver One -looking up at him. Whenever he did that, from the gourd there came a -sound of melting music, so entrancing a sound that Rairu felt himself to -be a part of all things—a part of the very heavens and the stars and -the sun and the moon. Even of the forest with its animals and birds, its -trees and its pools, he was a part. - -Day and night strange things the Silver One told Rairu, and of those -things that which he found most sad was her telling that when the day -came on which he took his eyes from her and thought of other things on -which she would not look, things which hid from her in dark places and -under roofs, then there would be a dividing and she would become to him -but as an aching memory. At that Rairu, after pondering awhile, always -laughed, telling her that no sword could sever the thread that bound -them. - -There came a day when the Silver One told Rairu that it would be well if -they visited the sky-world for a season, and to do that Rairu was quite -willing. So at her bidding Rairu sat among the leaves of a palm tree and -the Silver One crept out of the gourd and took her place by his side. -With a little stick she touched the tree, and at that it grew rapidly, -grew until it carried them into a place all bare and treeless, without -birds or flowers. The Silver One told Rairu to wait a while and she -would return. She sped away and Rairu kept her in his sight, for her -light did not dim. - -Soon, to his astonishment he saw, close at hand, a beautiful city with -shining towers and moving lights of many colours, and about it went a -joyful procession of young men and maidens, dancing and singing and -playing instruments. Many beckoned to him to follow them, which he did. -Soon he came to a great hall, and as he entered a great burst of music -sounded, whereupon all there fell to dancing, whirling wildly. Wilder -and more wild grew the music; it became a welter of sound, a boiling -flood of strange noise that set his brain on fire. From corners leaped -evil and ugly things, bats, swine, evil-eyed carrion-birds, blunt-tailed -and mud-coloured serpents and great white toads, soft and clammy. In the -wild dance they joined and the din grew louder, so that it seemed to -Rairu that his ears must crack. But more fearful things there were, so -that Rairu fled to the place where he had stood when the Silver One left -him. - -She was there waiting for him, but her eyes, though still full of love, -were filled with sad tears. Very gently she chided him for his -disobedience, and Rairu hung his head in sorrow and shame, knowing that -he must leave the Silver One for a season. It needed no words to tell -that the thread was broken. Hand clasped hand then, the more -passionately because they knew that there would be a parting. - -“Go then, Rairu,” said she. “But mind well that a little toil, a little -striving, and thou shalt find me again. In the darkness lean on me, the -more because thou knowest thyself to be weak. Under the shadow of death, -dear Rairu, a fainting love is revived.” - -So Rairu returned to earth, but great was his desire to find again that -which he had lost. And he told his fellow-men of all that he had seen, -saying that he must again find his star. Soon, with searching, he found -his Silver One and the clear light led him, clothing all that he said -and did with beauty. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE CAT AND THE DREAM MAN - - -THIS is a tale that I heard when I was gold digging in Tierra del Fuego, -and if you want to get to the tale and skip the introduction, you may. -To do that, stop here—and pass over everything until you come to the -three stars * * * and begin at “Many years ago.” But if you want -information and all that kind of thing, read straight on and learn that -the man who told me the tale was named Soto, Adolpho Soto. He called -himself a Bolivian and said that it was a tale of Bolivia, but he had -never been to that country. His parents were Bolivian, but he had been -born and reared in inland Patagonia, on the east side of the Cordilleras -and north of the great shallow gulf that runs inland from the Strait of -Magellan. Anyway, he had heard the tale from others who knew all about -the three great stones and how they looked. Certainly he had not read -the story, for books meant nothing to him and he would not as much as -look at a picture. And it was quite clear to me that he believed every -word of the tale. Indeed, I am almost sure that he was doubtful in his -mind as to the wisdom of telling me all of it, thinking that I would not -believe it. Perhaps that is why he told me the tale in two parts, as if -in some manner I might thus get used to the shock of it. Mind you, on -the other hand, I am certain that he did not believe all that I told -him, though he was too polite to express unbelief. For instance, he -could not quite see how carriages went without horses, nor how men sent -messages over miles of wire, nor how the sound of a human voice could -come from a little box, without magic; for in the country that Adolpho -came from there were no railways, no telegraphs, and no phonographs. So -to the tale, or rather the first part of it, if you choose to hear it. - - * * * - - _The First Part_ - -Many years ago, said Soto, there came into the world a cat. It was in -the days when all creatures were harmless; when the teeth and claws of -the jaguar did not hurt; when the fang of the serpent was not poisonous; -when the very bushes had no thorns. But this cat was of evil heart and -unmerciful and a curse to the world, for she went about teaching -creatures to scratch and to bite, to tear and to kill, to hide in shady -places and leap out on unsuspecting things. Even a sheep she did not -leave to its own ways, but commenced to teach that gentle thing to fight -by butting with its head, though as it came to pass most luckily, the -cat came to a place where its mischief was stopped, as you shall hear -soon, so that señor sheep was left with his lesson half or less than -half learned, so that the youngest child now need not fear a whole -flock. - -But for the most part the cat slept in the daytime, so did not make all -the mischief that she might have made, although she dreamed mischief, -let it be remembered. But this was the bad thing of it: her dream came -to life and walked the earth in the shape of a man with a fox-face, and -a very terrible monster was he, for being a dream man he could not be -killed. That you may see for yourself. - -Sometimes he appeared among men, dressed in fine robes in a way of a -rich man, clothes wonderfully fine, as fine as those that you may see -about the men pictured on the playing cards. Sometimes it was otherwise -and he came as one all worn and travel-stained. Sometimes he came as a -head without a body, making mouths or looking slantwise; sometimes he -ran at people, did this dream man, ran with hooked fingers and claw -nails and made it so that the one he chased could not run at all, or -running, moved but slowly. For such must be the nature of the dreams of -cats, as everyone knows who has seen a cat with a mouse. But whichever -way the dream man came, mischief of some kind walked with him, and for -the most part he did his evil work by granting men their wishes. For you -must know that no man knows the thing that is best for him and for his -welfare, and many are apt to see some little things as desirable, the -which in time work out for their own undoing. Thus, once there was a man -who was a woodcutter, and growing weary of hard work he sat him down -under a tree and sighed, saying that though he worked hard, yet his work -was never done, and there were many mouths to feed. Then who should -appear before him but the fox-faced man, which of course was but the -cat-dream come to life, the cat meantime being asleep in the sun. So -this happened: - -“Why do you complain?” asked the fox-faced one, who knew very well what -was afoot. - -“All day I cut and chop, and chop and cut, but at the end of the day -little is the work that I have done, and my very children for whom I -toil, and for whom my wife toils, do but grumble that I am not rich,” -answered the poor fellow, who was indeed a very worthy man. - -“Lucky for you, then, is it that you have seen me,” said fox-face. “For -know that I have it in my power to grant you a wish. What then would you -have?” - -Hearing that, the woodcutter was thoughtful, for, in the manner of those -who see a dream man, everything seemed right and proper. Still, while he -had in his life wished for many things from day to day, when the time -came to make a wish he had none ready. Then his eye fell on his ax and -he said without thinking: “For one thing I wish that my ax was an ax so -that when I cut a stick or anything, I would have two as big as the -first one.” - -To be sure, had he given thought he might have seen how foolish a wish -was that, as both cat and fox-face knew. But he spoke as the wind blew. -Then fox-face said some words which the woodcutter did not understand, -and added: “Try now your ax.” - -So the man took a stick about the size of a man’s arm and brought down -his ax in the middle of it, and lo, there were two sticks, each the size -of a man’s arm, instead of two pieces each the half of that. The man -looked up, open-mouthed and surprised, to say something, but fox-face -had vanished, for the cat had wakened and so her dream ceased. - -But greatly amazed was the man, for, as he soon saw, all his chopping -was of no account, for a tree cut down became at once two trees and one -of those trees cut in halves became two trees again. As for cutting -smaller wood, that, too, soon became impossible, seeing that each stick -grew to two sticks, so that soon he had to cease work because of the -wood all about him. Worse still, as he went to the place where he lived, -there came across his path a poisonous serpent, and forgetting for a -moment the power of his ax he cut the snake in two, and there, hissing -before him, were two snakes. So he fled to his people and told them the -tale, at which they wondered greatly. But to make sure that the ax would -do no mischief, and in truth somewhat fearing it, they hung it in a -tree, and each man told his son the story of it, so that all might come -to know it as a thing best left alone. - - II - -Now in the course of time there came to that place a very wise man who -had seen many wonders. It had come to his ears that the cat was a -creature of darkness, teaching harmless things evil tricks, but of the -fox-faced man he knew nothing. The cat only, he considered. So the wise -man walked the mountains for many days, and one day when the sky was low -and it was a day of rain, an unpleasant day for the cat, he came upon -the evil-minded creature hurrying somewhere. - -“Why in so great a hurry?” asked the wise man. “Sit awhile with me and -talk.” - -“No. No,” said the cat. “I like not your water and I seek a place where -there is shelter, so that I may be dry and warm.” Indeed, the cat looked -very miserable indeed. - -“Well, how would you like to have a house of stone?” asked the wise man. - -“That I should like very much indeed,” answered the cat. “But it must be -a house large enough for me, and with no room for any other creature, -for I am not fond of company. But a house in which I could sit and -dream, and where no noises might disturb, would be very pleasant. Make -me such a one and I shall teach you something. Or how about a wish? -Would you like to have claws like an owl? Or would you like to drink -blood like a vampire bat? Or would you like to spit poison? Or would you -like to bristle like a porcupine?” - -“Thank you, no,” said the wise man. “I want nothing. But by to-morrow -there shall be a house ready for you.” - -“Where is it to be built?” asked the cat. “First, it must be in a quiet -place where men do not go.” - -“It shall be that,” answered the wise man. “But just now I do not know -where the place may be. I must seek a proper place.” - -“Then how shall I find it?” asked the cat. - -“Attend,” said the wise man. “I shall put a thread about the world, a -thread that no man may break with his hands, and when you see that -thread, follow it and so come to the stone house.” - -“Agreed,” said the cat. “But let the house be just big enough for me. -Let it be in a quiet place. Also, let it be of such fashion that I can -slip out backward or leap out forward should an enemy come.” - -So that being said and no more to come, man and cat parted. - -But mark well what followed. On the next day the cat chanced to see the -thread and followed it, walking down hill and up hill, down mountain and -up mountain, until she arrived at a high place where stood the wise man. -At his feet were three flat stones, two standing upright, the third -across the top of the two, so that it was like two sides of a little -house, roofed and of a comfortable size for the cat. So after looking -about carefully and suspiciously, the cat entered into it and coiled her -tail about her, blinked her eyes once, twice, thrice, then slept. And as -soon as she was well asleep the wise man fastened the thread about her -neck, the same thread which went about the world and which no man could -break with his hands, there being magic about it, and señora cat was -bound for years, and would have been bound for ever, had it not been for -Nasca, about whom you shall hear. - -That ends the tale of the cat, though there is much more to come. And if -you are in a hurry to get to the rest of the tale, you may skip from -this—to the three stars * * * again, without losing much. - -I said that it ended the tale of the cat, but it does not. It ends the -first part only, for Adolpho went only thus far, and the telling took -the whole of an evening, for there was much looping and winding in his -telling and he added much that had nothing to do with the tale. Indeed, -you should be very grateful indeed to me for trimming all the -uninteresting stuff away. And let me tell you this: it was not at all -easy to get Adolpho to tell the rest of the tale, and the place in which -we sat when we talked was not comfortable. It was no house with -radiators and electric lights, or bathtubs and bookshelves. Indeed, the -only furniture that we had was a frying-pan without a handle and an iron -pot. As for our house, it looked more like a short stout bottle than a -dwelling. For the truth is that we were careless builders and had made -our house out of sods of earth; but while we started to build a square -house, we did not take care of the corners, and the house came roundish -and the walls leaned inward as they went higher, so we left the top open -by way of chimney, for our fire was built in the middle of the floor. -Thus such was the shape of our house that we had to sleep curved and we -had to stand curved, though we rarely stood, because of the smoke, I -assure you. - -Almost three weeks passed away before Adolpho told me the rest of the -tale and it was a cold night in June when he did. After supper he -commenced, perhaps because it was the kind of stew that he liked best. -For the most of the stew was fish. I said “the most of the stew,” -because our stews were different from those you have. If on Monday we -had a piece of huanaco meat, we put it in the iron pot to stew. There -would be something left over, for we always made a little more than we -required and we never wasted food. So, supper being done, the iron pot -with the remains of the stew was put aside. Perhaps next day we might -have caught or shot a young goose, or something like that. Anyway, -whatever we caught went into the pot by way of stew. So that day there -would be goose stew with a flavour of huanaco. Next day we might add -charqui, which is dried horse-flesh, to the stew, so while the chief -thing would be charqui, there would be a decided flavour of goose and -more than a trace of huanaco. But if we had fish on the fourth day, then -of course it would be strongly fishy stew, with a kind of side taste of -charqui, a flavour of goose, and a mild trace of huanaco. On the whole -it was satisfactory, for toward the end of the week any one might find -something to his liking, though on Saturday we always cleaned out the -pot, as we needed it for our week’s washing. And so, as I say, when we -came one evening to fish stew, Adolpho was in high good humour and told -me the rest of the tale, and this is how his story ran. - - * * * - - _The Second Part of the Tale_ - -Now, began Soto, you must remember all that I have told you about the -cat bound on the mountain top, the magic ax hanging in the tree, and the -hundreds and hundreds of years that passed, with the cat growing larger -and larger. As the cat grew, so did the house, for the wise man had -promised that it should be just big enough for the cat, and he kept his -word. But you must also remember that the cat could not move, but could -certainly dream. So she dreamed of many lands, and the dream man was -very active indeed, though he vanished whenever the cat woke. - -When you come to think of it, you will see that it was a most excellent -thing that the cat was bound, for had she not been, she would have -worked her mischief on the world and a sheep might have been as terrible -as a wild boar or flies as annoying as mosquitoes or horses as bold as -wild bulls or the very fish as poisonous as serpents. While the cat did -not dream, of course the fox-faced man was nowhere, and then all went -very well and trees put out their blossoms and fruits, the grass was -softly green, the rain was like silver, and gentle were the hearts of -men as they went about their affairs. - -But there was a day on which the cat dreamed and the fox-faced fellow -was busy. To the place where lived the people who guarded the magic ax, -there came a stranger. His eyes were aslant and little, the hair of him -was reddish, and he was in rags and tatters and altogether dirty in -appearance. To be sure, no one would look twice at rags and tatters, for -one coming through the forest must needs be torn by thorns and bushes in -all that tangle, but dirt was quite another matter, especially when the -dirt included blood stains, because in that place was much water and -many running streams, nor was the water chill to the skin. So, because -of the uncleanness of the man, people looked at him with unfriendly -eyes, and though they were neither insolent nor rude they hoped that he -would go farther and not stay there. Nor would it have been any great -hardship for him to do so, seeing that it was a place of much fruit and -of many berries, and roots pleasant to the taste and full of -nourishment. As for the night, any man might well stretch himself under -that star-sprinkled sky, nor except for the beasts that the cat had made -unfriendly were there creatures to do harm. But the stranger had no -notion of doing anything to please the people, nor indeed could he do -anything, seeing that he was the creature of the cat’s dream, walking -the world. - -For a time then he stood under a tree bewailing his lot and crying out -that all the world was against him and saying that none were kind to -him. Strange things he did, too, as is the manner of dream people, -making himself sometimes shoot far far away so that he looked small, -then coming near again and getting big, or sometimes pointing his finger -at someone, then throwing his arm round and round in great circles, the -finger always pointing, the circles he made growing smaller and smaller, -little by little, but his finger always pointing, until it came close to -the watcher’s eyes. The people thought this an annoying thing for a -stranger to do; but so it was. And always he woefully wailed. So those -there stood about him in a little circle, none going close, but all -wondering much at the great outcry, the like of which none there had -heard before. Then he began to sing, noisily, wildly. This was his song: - - “Over the world I walk, - Alone, for ever alone. - Trouble and trial and care, - Alone, I bear alone. - Torture and pain I bear, - Alone, for ever alone. - Wandering day and night, - Alone, for ever alone. - Sad and wretched my plight, - Alone, for ever alone.” - -Then he gave a long, long cry, like a wolf: - - “A—a—a—a—a——lone, Oo—oo—oo—oo!” - -Nor did he stop at that, for his song done, he began to act stupidly, -leaping from side to side in rage and fury, mouthing and grimacing, -opening and closing his fists, but making no noise. Then he talked -again, but it was a jabber of idle words, so presently those about him -shook their heads at one another, looking at him as one who had lost his -wits, never thinking of course that he was a cat’s dream. - -While all this was going on, there came from the little lake where he -had been fishing a lad named Nasca, bearing a basket of fish, a happy -fellow who always made music and song as he walked, and seeing the -people gathered about the stranger he drew near. No sooner did the -stranger clap eyes on the fish than he leaped at the basket and began -devouring the silvery things, eating them raw, heads, bodies, and tails, -for thus ran the cat’s dream and cattishness must out. But the meal -being done, the stranger redoubled his lamentations, all the time -swinging his arm in circles, sometimes great, sometimes small, with his -finger pointed at the boy. - -“A—a—a—a—a——lone, Oo—oo—oo—oo!” he screamed, and the boy -thought that such a fellow well deserved to be alone, but he was too -polite to say so. - -“I am hungry and travel-worn,” the stranger went on. “Is there no one -here who will give me shelter? Is there no one in this place with a kind -heart to pity me?” - -Hearing that, the heart of Nasca was touched, for never had he, nor -never had his grandmother with whom he lived, turned a hungry creature -away empty. Indeed, so gentle in spirit was Nasca that if the stem of a -flower was broken by a heedless creature he was full of grief. Yet the -doings of the stranger astonished him and troubled him, for the man -without seeming to move his feet thrust his face close to the boy’s, -then somehow took his face far off. That silly trick he did again and -again as dream creatures do, so that seeing him Nasca was well nigh made -dizzy. Then the lad, blushing red as fire because of all the people -thereabouts who did not offer what he offered, said: - -“Come home, then, with me. Our house is small but there is room enough. -Believe me, it is not that these people are hard-hearted that they do -not seem to welcome you, but more because you must have been too weary -with walking to wash yourself. But behind the hill and under a tree near -where we live is a still pool, and there doubtless you will clean -yourself.” - -Then Nasca led the way and the stranger went with him, yet not walking, -but leaping up and down as he went, and sometimes not touching the -ground at all. Nasca was not comfortable with the stranger by his side, -for he felt him to be more like a shadow than a man, and a shadow that -hung over him and tormented him, a shadow that might pounce upon him. - -Having come to the place where his grandmother was, Nasca was sorely -troubled to see the old woman fall to trembling when she heard the voice -of the stranger, who was making an idle jabber of words again. Indeed, -after a time she put her hands to her face and wept, though that was -after the man having eaten had left the place to rest under a tree. -Nasca comforted her as best he could, then asked her to tell him the -cause of her grief. Be it remembered that she was very, very old and her -eyes were weak and dim with age. - -“Tell me,” she said, taking Nasca’s hand, “has this man eyes aslant, -like the eyes of a fox?” - -“Indeed and he has,” answered Nasca. Then his heart bade him say some -good of the fellow, and he added: “Yet no man makes his own face, -wherefore must some be pitied.” - -“Tell me,” said the grandmother eagerly, “has he sharp teeth like a -cat?” - -“That he has,” said Nasca, then wondering, asked: “Have you seen this -man, then, when your eyes were bright and strong?” - -“No, Nasca,” she answered, “never have I set eyes on him, yet I greatly -fear him; and long, long ago I heard stories about such a creature and -it was said that much evil he wrought, yet none could slay him.” She was -silent for a little, then again she asked this: “Did you see his ears, -Nasca, and are they pointed, like those of a fox?” - -“Yes,” said Nasca. - -At that answer the old woman was sad again and Nasca had to comfort her -with sweet words, telling her that she should come to no hurt, since he -was there, for he would die defending her. - -“That I know, Nasca,” she said. “If the hurt came to me alone, glad -would I be, for I have seen my golden days and now there is little left -for me but the brief sunset hour. But I fear for others. Of such a -creature I have heard it said that he comes from nowhere and goes into -nothing, but somehow looses evil upon men. Because of that I fear. So, -Nasca, promise me that if this man asks anything of you, you will do -nothing that promises hurt to any living thing.” - -That Nasca promised gladly enough, then said: “Yet it may be that this -man is not the evil creature you have heard of. It may well be some -unfortunate whose wits are loose. True, his face is far from pleasant to -see, but a rough face may go with a good heart, and a man’s face may -change.” - -“Yes, with wickedness,” said the old woman, “but in truth it has been -said that a man’s face and his character both go with him to the grave, -if indeed there is any grave for such as this.” - - II - -Now all that talk Nasca remembered well the next day when a strange -thing happened. For the stranger went about among the people, asking -this one and that what he most desired. But there were none to make a -wish for a time, because life there was pleasant and easy and the -possessions of men were few, so all that the stranger said went for -nothing. Then, as it chanced, there came one of the people a little put -out because he had lost sleep that morning. He was a man much given to -rest and slumber, a slow and heavy man, and that morning he had been -awakened by the singing of the birds. To make matters worse, going away -from the place where he had lain, in too great a hurry, he chanced to -scratch himself on some thorns. So, taking it all in all, his humour was -not a pleasant one; yet had it not been for the stranger, he might have -forgotten his troubles. As it was, he heard the stranger’s speech and -the offer to grant any wish, so he spoke without considering his words. - -“If you grant wishes, there is one that I would have,” he said, nodding -to his friends in the manner of one who had a matter of weight to tell -of. - -“Say it,” said the stranger, and he grinned queerly so that his lip went -up and his tusky teeth shone yellow. - -“This morning I was disturbed by birds and scratched by thorns, so I -wish that nothing might come near me to disturb me in the future.” - -“As you wish,” said the stranger, and gabbled what seemed to be idle and -meaningless words. - -Then a strange thing happened, for as the man who had made the wish -stood looking at the stranger, his mouth wide open, all living things -about him suddenly fell away. Within the stretch of a man’s arm from him -the grass yellowed and died, and the flowers shrank and withered, and a -butterfly that fluttered over him fell to earth, dead. And the people -cried out, seeing that, but soon it became clear that not even sounds -could come within that magic circle. The air bore no noise to the -charmed man, not even the sweet noise of the songs of birds nor the -chirping of insects, and the man was, in very truth, in such case that -nothing could be nigh him to disturb him. Indeed, as he moved, all -things died within the stretch of his arms, seeing which his friends -fled from him, all fearful of his nearness. Afraid of his loneliness the -man walked to a tree, but no sooner did he touch it than the very leaves -folded themselves and turned black, then dropped off and fluttered down, -so that the arms of the good tree stood skeleton-bare against the sky. -At that all hope in the man was gone and he turned and fled into the -forest, a space opening before him as he ran, a track of death -everywhere behind him. - -Nasca saw all that, and his grandmother’s fears came to his mind. -Indeed, he told many there of what the old woman had said, but some of -them held that the stranger had but granted the wisher his wish, and if -there was fault in the matter the fault lay with the wisher, not with -the granter of the wish. As for the grandmother, when she heard the tale -she was in great trouble and threw herself on the ground weeping, and -though Nasca did what he could to comfort her, yet she wept and wept. - -“Nasca,” she said presently, “surely we must do what we can to rid the -place of this fearful creature. For it is as I thought, and he is a -black-hearted thing, not of this world of men, and one who will -assuredly bring hate and fear and trouble. Find, then, if there is any -means by which he may be made to go away, even to the point of helping -him, if need be, but see to it that you think not of yourself and your -own gain, and see to it that anything that you do at his request will -bring no harm to any living creature, even the smallest.” - -All this Nasca promised, and in the early dawn of the next day went up -to the hills to see the sun rise, as indeed did all brave and strong men -and fair maidens in that place. Then he swam a little while, and ate -some fruit and thought a while, and after sought out the stranger. - -“Stranger,” said he, “be it known to you that there are many here who -fear your presence among us and who would be glad to see you gone from -here.” - -“Ho! Ho! What bold words are these I hear?” roared fox-face, full of -wrath at Nasca’s words. - -“I speak but the truth,” said the lad boldly enough, though his heart -beat against his ribs. “Tell me, then, what can be done so that you may -be persuaded to leave us.” - -Fox-face thought awhile, then he said: “On a far mountain is a gentle -creature bound with a magic thread which no man’s hand can break. Yet -magic fights magic, and the magic ax can sever the thread. Also, at the -moment the thread is cut, so will the man who is prisoned in air be -free, but not before. Now the bound creature is my companion and no -fierce thing at all. Come with me, Nasca, bringing the magic ax, and -when you have seen the cat, then perchance shall the spell be broken.” - -All of that seeming fair to Nasca, he went to the tree where hung the -magic ax, though he had much ado to climb through the tangle all about -the tree, for no man had been there for many a year. He took the ax and -fastened it well in his sash, and returned to the side of the stranger. -Then fox-face took a mat made of feathers of the night owl and the hair -of the skunk, and spread it on the ground, but it was so small that -there was scarce place for Nasca and the man too, so the lad cut it with -the magic ax and there were two mats, which was more to Nasca’s taste, -for he had no liking to stand on the mat and hold on to fox-face. No -sooner had they taken their places on the mats than they rose in the -air, and in a swift moment both of them were so high that the country -lay spread at their feet with trees like grass and with rivers that -looked like silver threads. Nor could the swiftest condor move with the -speed with which they flew through the air. So at last they came to a -place where everywhere were bare rocks and hard stone, with no blade of -grass to be seen, and it was a place among mountain peaks, with stony -ridge rising above stony ridge, and on a mountain peak the two rested. - -“Now look away to the far hill,” said the stranger, and while the place -to which he pointed was very far off, yet because of the clearness of -the air it seemed but a short distance away. Looking steadily Nasca saw -the three great rocks, for they were tremendously grown now, after so -many hundreds of years, but to Nasca they seemed no higher than a man’s -knee, and sitting under them was the cat. - -“That is the companion I seek,” said fox-face. “By magic she is bound -and by magic only can she be loosed, and I promise you that if you will -but loose her I shall be seen no more in your land.” - -“Fair enough,” said Nasca. “But I must be assured of a return to my own -place, for it is far from home on these hills.” - -“That is well enough,” answered fox-face. “Have you not your flying mat? -Though to be sure, as soon as you take your foot from it it will -vanish.” - -Nasca thought for a little while, and the more he thought the more it -seemed to him to be a good thing and not an evil to loose the cat, so he -asked the stranger to show him the bond that held her. At that fox-face -pointed, and there almost at his feet Nasca beheld a slender thread, -like a hair, that ran this way and that as far as the eye could see. So -with a blow of the magic ax he cut the thread, and there was a noise -like thunder and the thread ends slid away like swift snakes. Nor did -the stranger play Nasca false, for in a flash he found himself back -again at the foot of the tree where the magic ax had hung, and so -swiftly had the journey been made that a man who had stooped to fill his -calabash at a pool when Nasca left, was even then straightening himself -to go away, his calabash being filled. As for the fox-faced stranger, no -one ever saw him again, for the cat being awakened, her dream had ended. -And at the moment when the thread was cut, the man who had been bound in -air came back again, his enchantment finished, and the things that had -died about him, because of invisible forces, sprang to life again. - -But what of the cat? For Nasca little thought that he had loosed a -fearful thing on the world, a frightful form of giant mould of a size -bigger than a bull. Nor did he know until one evening, as he sat by the -fire, it being chill in that high place at times, he turned his head as -the robe that hung at the door bulged into the house. He looked to see -his grandmother, but instead a great cat filled the doorway, a cat with -green eyes, each the size of an egg. Indeed so great was the cat that it -had to crouch low to enter. And when within, the room was filled with -it, a sight that made the heart of Nasca stand still. A gloomy terror it -was, and most fiendish was the look that it gave the lad. But Nasca, -though terror-stricken, yet showed no sign of fear. Instead, he made -room for the cat by the fire as though he saw cats like that every day. -So the cat sat by the fire and close to Nasca, sometimes looking at the -blaze without winking, sometimes turning its great head to look for long -and long at the boy. Once Nasca stood up, saying that he would go -outside and bring in more wood for the fire, privately thinking to get -out of the place in safety, but the great paw of the cat shot out with -claws that looked like reaping hooks, whereupon Nasca sat down again -saying that, after all, the fire would live awhile. But he thought and -thought and the cat looked and looked, and the place was as still and -quiet as a midnight pool. - -Presently Nasca found heart to say something. - -“If you want to stay here and rest,” he said to the cat, “I shall go -away.” - -“You must not go away,” said the cat in a soft voice, stretching out one -of her paws with the cruel claws showing a little. - -After that a long time passed and the fire flamed only a little, and the -shadow of the cat was big and black on the wall, and Nasca thought and -thought and the cat looked and looked. Then the firelight danced and the -big black shadow seemed to leap and then grow small, and the cat’s eyes -were full of a cold fire as they rested on Nasca. - -Then suddenly Nasca broke into a laugh, though, to be sure, the laugh -did not come from his heart. - -“Why do you laugh?” said the cat. - -“Because you are so big and I am so little, but for all that I can run -ten times faster than you,” answered Nasca, and his words sounded bold -enough. He added: “All living creatures would agree in that.” - -“That is nonsense,” said the cat, her jealousy at once aroused. “I am -the fastest creature on earth. I can leap over mountains and I take -rivers at a step.” - -“It does not matter what you can do,” said Nasca, growing bolder every -second. “Let me tell you this: While a man stooped to fill his calabash, -I went from this place to a far mountain, cut the thread that bound you, -and returned before the man with the calabash had straightened himself, -and if you do not believe it, I will bring the man.” - -Nasca said all this with some idea of getting an excuse to go from -there, but the words struck deep and the cat wondered. - -“Why did you loose me?” asked the cat. - -“Because I wanted to run a race with you,” answered Nasca. - -“If we run a race it must be for a wager,” said the cat. “If you lose I -make a meal of you. Is it agreed?” - -“Fairly spoken,” said Nasca, “though to be sure if you lose I make no -meal of you.” - -“Let us run to-morrow then,” said Nasca. “And I shall sleep well under -the tree and be fresh in the morning.” - -“Not so,” said the cat. “If we run, we run at midnight and under the -cold white moon.” - -“So be it,” answered Nasca. “Where shall we run?” - -“Across the mountains and back again, seven times,” said the cat, -choosing the highlands, because she knew that she could leap over hills -and cañons, while Nasca would have to climb up and down, and choosing -night because she could see better in the dark than Nasca. For the cat -was very wise. But Nasca on his part thought of little more than getting -away from the cat for a while. So he told the cat that he would bring a -basket of fish for her supper, which he did, and while the cat ate he -went outside and sought his grandmother. - -The wise old woman laughed when she heard the story. “To a cat her -cattishness,” she said, “but to a woman her wit. All falls out well -enough. Haste, run and bring me the magic ax.” - -“But no,” said Nasca. “To use that would but make two terrible cats, and -one is more than enough.” - -“Heed me, Nasca, and bring the ax,” she repeated. - -At that the boy ran swiftly and brought the ax. - -“Now stand, Nasca, and fear not,” said the old woman, and lifted the ax. -So the lad stood, closing his eyes when he saw her raise the ax to -strike. - -Then with a swift blow she brought the weapon down on Nasca’s head, -cutting him in two, and in a moment there stood before her two Nascas, -each as like the other as one blade of grass is like another. Surely and -well had the ax done its work. One Nasca was as shapely as the other, -one as fair-skinned as the other. - -“Now,” said the old woman, “happy was I with one Nasca, so doubly happy -shall I be with two. So stay you here, Nasca the first, and Nasca the -second must come with me. Oh, a merry world and a glad will it be now, -since joy and gladness are doubled.” - -At that she remembered that she had told neither lad anything, in her -delight, so she turned again to the first Nasca. - -“Wait here for the great cat,” she said. “Go with her to the great cañon -where the race must start, and when the cat makes to leap across, which -she will do, do you climb down a little way, then hide yourself until -the cat returns. Doubtless we shall be able to manage matters at the -other end. But see to it that you chide the cat for her slowness when -she returns after the first run, and we shall see what we shall see.” - -Having said that, the old woman set off with Nasca the second, walking -bravely over the ridges and hills that rose one behind the other like -the waves of the sea. And when they had come to a far place where the -mountain dropped down like a great stone wall to a fearful depth, they -sat them down to wait, Nasca the second being in plain sight, the old -woman hiding behind a rock. - -But as soon as the moon rose the great cat walked to where Nasca the -first stood, her eyes glaring terribly and her hair all a-bristle. So -horrible a sight was she that for a moment Nasca went deadly pale, but -he spoke boldly enough, nevertheless, for the brave one is not he that -does not fear, but rather he that fears and yet does the thing that he -has set out to do. - -“One thing,” said Nasca to the cat. “Is it right that you should leap -over the cañon, going from one side to the other like a bird, while I -must climb down and then up again? Let us make things fairer in the -race, and do you climb down and up the other side with me.” But all this -he said in a kind of spirit of mischief, knowing full well that the cat -would give him no chance at all. - -“Ha! What is to do now?” said the cat with a hiss and a sneer. “Does -your heart fail you already? Are you terror-tormented at the start? A -fine racer, you, indeed! No, no, my fine lad. We race for a supper and -you must supply the meal.” - -To that Nasca answered nothing, so there was a little silence, broken -only by the hooting of the owl who was, indeed, trying to tell the cat -the truth of matters. But the cat was too full of her own notions and -had no ear for others. She lay crouched on the ground, ready to make a -spring, and Nasca wondered whether her jump would be at him or across -the cañon. Suddenly, in a voice like thunder, the cat called: “START!” -and at the word, leaped across the valley and was off and away, without -as much as giving a glance at the lad. But he made a great deal of fuss -on his part, climbing down the face of the cañon wall. The cat, on -landing on the other side, looked back, then gave a cry of triumph, -seeing the poor start that Nasca had made. “Come on! Come on!” she -called. “The run will sharpen my appetite,” and even as she said that, -she was a distance off, then bounding away up hill and down hill, over -the ridges, over the rocks, over the streams, taking a hundred yards at -a bound. So in a very short space of time she came to the place where -Nasca the second stood, and was mightily astonished to see her opponent, -as she thought, there before her. - -“Too easy, señora cat, too easy,” said Nasca the second, speaking as the -grandmother bade him. “I thought cats were swifter. Doubtless you play, -though.” - -Hearing that speech the cat was full of anger and in a voice that shook -the mountains, she roared: “BACK! BACK AGAIN! I’ll show you.” - -Off ran Nasca the second then, but the cat passed him like lightning, -her very whiskers streaming behind, and as soon as she was over the -first hill the lad went back to the place where his grandmother was. -Señora cat knew nothing of that, though, and went bounding as before, -tearing up hill and down hill, over the ridges, over the rocks, over the -streams, taking two hundred yards at a leap, and at last came to the -place of beginning, to behold Nasca, who stood smiling and wiping his -brow lightly, as if he had been running. - -“Much better, señora cat,” he said. “You almost caught me that time. A -little faster and you would have won. But still I have more speed in me -to let loose. Come on.” - -No sooner were the words out of his mouth than he started off, making as -though to climb down the cañon wall, and the cat gave a screech that -shook the very skies and made the pale moon quiver. So fast she went -that the very trees and bushes that she passed were scorched, and as for -the rocks over which she flew, they were melted by the heat of the air. -Every leap that she took was four hundred yards. Up hill and down hill -she went, over the ridges, over the rocks, over the streams, and so at -last she came once more to where the second Nasca stood. - -“A good run that, señora cat,” he said. “I think that we shall finish -the race soon and in a way that I may live and be happy, though for me -you must go supperless. Certainly I must try, for to lose will profit me -nothing.” - -But the cat was at her wits’ end, supposing that Nasca ran faster than -she. She opened her mouth to shriek, but fast upon her came a great -feebleness, and she faltered and reeled and then fell down in a faint, -seeing nothing at all. No time then did the second Nasca and the old -woman lose. Putting themselves to the task, they rolled the cat to the -edge of the great rock wall that ran down straight. Then after a pause -to gain breath they gave another push, and the body of the giant cat -fell over the edge and was broken to pieces on the sharp rocks below. So -that was the end of the cat and the end of her dreams. - -The two Nascas and the old woman went to their own place and told the -people all that had happened, so there was great rejoicing, and laughter -and song and weaving of garlands, and everybody was happy. And ever -since there has been kindness and good fellowship in that land. And for -those who would see signs of the tale there stand the three great rocks -on the highlands, each so heavy that two hundred men could not lift -them, and wise men wonder much what manner of men put them there. But -only those who are not wise and learned know the truth of the matter, as -you may test for yourself by asking any very wise men who come to visit -you. - - THE END -[Illustration] - - - - - TRANSCRIBER NOTES - -Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. Where multiple -spellings occur, majority use has been employed. - -Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious printer errors -occur. - -Some illustrations were moved to facilitate page layout. - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FROM SILVER LANDS *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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margin-bottom: 0em;} - hr.tbk { border:none; border-bottom:1px solid white; - width:30%; margin-left:35%; margin-right:35%; - margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; } - .figcenter {margin:0 0 0 0; } - </style> - </head> - <body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tales from silver lands, by Charles J. Finger</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Tales from silver lands</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Charles J. Finger</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrator: Paul Honoré</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: June 11, 2022 [eBook #68292]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Al Haines, Cindy Beyer & the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at https://www.pgdpcanada.net</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FROM SILVER LANDS ***</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' id='iid-0000' style='width:80%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illofront.jpg' alt='' id='front' style='width:80%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/title.jpg' alt='' id='iid-0001' style='width:80%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='lgc' style=''> <!-- rend=';fs:.7em;' --> -<p class='line0' style='font-size:.7em;'>CL</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line0' style='font-size:.7em;'>COPYRIGHT, 1924, BY</p> -<p class='line0' style='font-size:.7em;'>DOUBLEDAY & COMPANY</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line0' style='font-size:.7em;'>ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line0' style='font-size:.7em;'>PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<table id='tab1' summary='' class='center' style='font-size:.8em;'> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>TO THE GOLDEN HEARTED</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>CARL SANDBURG</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>AND HIS FRIENDS, MY CHILDREN</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>HELEN AND HERBERT</td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<table id='tab2' summary='' class='center'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 3.5em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 21em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 2.5em;'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tab2c1-col3 tdStyle0' colspan='3'>CONTENTS</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tab2c1-col2 tdStyle4' colspan='2'><span style='font-size:x-small'>CHAPTER</span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><span style='font-size:x-small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>I</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>A Tale of Three Tails</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo1'>1</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>II</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Magic Dog</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo14'>14</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>III</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Calabash Man</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo23'>23</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>IV</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>Na-Ha the Fighter</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo35'>35</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>V</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Humming-Bird and the Flower</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo43'>43</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>VI</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Magic Ball</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo48a'>48</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>VII</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>El Enano</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo59'>59</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>VIII</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Hero Twins</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo69'>69</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>IX</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Four Hundred</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo79'>79</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>X</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Killing of Cabrakan</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo92'>92</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>XI</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Tale of the Gentle Folk</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo99'>99</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>XII</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Tale that Cost a Dollar</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo107'>107</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>XIII</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Magic Knot</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo122'>122</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>XIV</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Bad Wishers</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo134'>134</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>XV</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Hungry Old Witch</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo143'>143</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>XVI</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Wonderful Mirror</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo156'>156</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>XVII</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Tale of the Lazy People</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo170'>170</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>XVIII</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>Rairu and the Star Maiden</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo188'>188</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle1'>XIX</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Cat and the Dream Man</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo197'>197</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line0' style='text-align:center;margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:1em;'>WOODCUTS</p> - -<table id='tab3' summary='' class='center'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 20.5em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 7em;'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span>One day there came to their house a man in a torn poncho</span></td><td class='tab3c2 tdStyle3'><a href='#front'><span class='it'>Frontispiece</span></a></td></tr> -</table> -<table id='tab4' summary='' class='center'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 25em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 2.5em;'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab4c2 tdStyle3'><span style='font-size:x-small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span>When the first snow commenced to fall she was always full of glee, standing on a rock, screaming like a wind-gale</span></td><td class='tab4c2 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo48b'>48</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span>He took flat pieces of wood and began cutting out figures like little men</span></td><td class='tab4c2 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo176'>176</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span>Soon, to his astonishment he saw, close at hand, a beautiful city</span></td><td class='tab4c2 tdStyle3'><a href='#illo194'>194</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo0.jpg' alt='' id='iid-0002' style='width:80%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo1.jpg' alt='' id='illo1' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<p class='line0' style='text-align:center;margin-top:.5em;font-size:1.5em;font-weight:bold;'>TALES FROM SILVER LANDS</p> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>A TALE OF THREE TAILS</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/D.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='D'/>OWN in Honduras there is a town called Pueblo -de Chamelecón which is not much of a town after -all. There is only one street in it, and the houses -are like big beehives that have been squared up, and the -roofs are of straw. There is no sidewalk, no roadway, and -the houses are unfenced, so that you step from the room -into the sandy street and, because of the heat, when you are -inside you wish that you were out, and when you are outside -you wish that you were in. So the children of the place -spend much time down at the little river. At least they did -when I was there.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I rode there on a donkey and, the day being hot, let the -animal graze, or sleep, or think, or dream, or work out -problems—or whatever it is that a donkey does with his -spare time—and I watched the children in the water. -There was one, a little baby just able to toddle around, who -crawled down to the water’s edge, rolled in and swam about -like a little dog, much as the babies of Tierra del Fuego -will swim in the icy waters of the Far South. He came out -on my side of the water, as lively as a grig, smiling every bit -as friendly as any other little chap of his age, white, brown, -or yellow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I stayed there that night because the day did not get cool -and in the evening the people sat outside of their houses -and played the guitar and sang. Now I had with me a -little musical instrument like a tiny organ, which I bought -in France, and it was so compact and handy that I could -carry it everywhere as easily as I could a blanket. In fact, -I used to ride with it behind my saddle, wrapped in my -bedding. Well, as the people seemed to like their music, I -brought out mine, so we had a very jolly concert, in spite -of my poor voice, which they politely pretended not to -notice. Then later, from curiosity, the children came -about me and, to amuse them as well as myself, having done -so badly at the singing, I did a few tricks with wads of -rolled paper and a couple of tin cups, and the little boy -who had swum across the pond laughed as loudly as any one -there. That pleased his father mightily, so much indeed -that he brought me a cup of goat’s milk and some cassava -bread and told me that I was a fine fellow. To please -me further, he sang a very, very long song. It was all about -the parrot and the wonderful things it did, a parrot that -had lived long among people and learned their songs, and -when the bird flew back to the forest, it still sang, and so -well that all the other parrots in the forest learned to sing -the song from beginning to end. But what was curious was -that at the end of every other verse, there was this line:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>When the rat had a tail like a horse.</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>So when he had done I asked him about that, for all the -rats I had seen had tails which were far from beautiful, -according to my notion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The man listened gravely, then said: “But certainly, once -the rat had a tail like a horse.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When was that?” I asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When the rabbit had a tail like a cat,” he said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But I am still puzzled,” I told him. “Was it long ago?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It was when the deer’s tail was plumed like the tail of a -dog,” he told me.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As we talked, a kind of polite silence was upon all the -people gathered about us; then a very, very old woman -who was smoking a cigar nodded her head and said: “But -Tio Ravenna is right. It was in the days of Hunbatz, who -lived on beetles and spiders, and I heard it from my mother’s -mother, and she from the mother of her mother.” Then -the old woman went on smoking with her eyes closed, and -all who were there nodded at one another, thinking, I suppose, -that the old grandmother would presently tell the -story. But of course, they who knew her well were wiser -than to ask her to tell the Tale of Three Tails, so every one -waited.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Presently, a little girl gave the old grandmother a piece -of sugar and asked: “Was it two brothers, or three, who had -to clear the great forest? I am not sure.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At that the little old lady’s eyes were bright and she threw -away her cigar and said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Two brothers. That I have told you before.” After -a little sigh, which was only pretending that she was weary -of telling the tale, she said: “You know that I have told -it to you before, and it is wrong that I should have to tell it -so often. But you see this.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So saying, she took from her bosom, where she had it -fastened to a silk thread, a little piece of jade and let us see -it. It was broken from a larger piece, but we could make -out on it a carving which I saw to be a deer with a tail like -a sheep dog’s. We passed it about and every one looked -at it carefully, although certainly all of them must have -seen it time and time again, and when it came to the old -grandmother again she replaced it and told us the Tale of -Three Tails, just as I have written it here.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>Once, long ago, the rat had a beautiful tail like a horse, -with long sweeping hairs, though it was before my time of -life. It was in the days of old Hunbatz, and he was a wizard -who lived in the dark of the great forest that used to be -on the other side of the big river. In those days things -were not as now and animals were different; some larger, -some smaller. The deer, as you have seen on the stone I -showed you, had a tail like a dog, and the rabbit’s tail was -long and furry like the tail of a cat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now in that land there was a hunter with whom neither -lasso nor arrow ever failed, and he had two sons, beautiful -to look at and brave of heart, stout and quick of foot. -Not only did the brothers work better than any men had -ever worked, but they could play ball and sing, throwing -the ball higher than birds could fly, and singing in a way -that brought the wild things to hear them. Nor was there -living creature able to run as swiftly as the two brothers. -The birds alone could outrace them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The brothers being grown, their father thought that it -was time for them to make a home for themselves, so chose -a place on the farther side of the forest, and told them to -clear it, which, he said, could be done in seven days. It -was no little forest, you must remember, but a vast place, -where sunlight never pierced, and the roots of trees were -like great ropes; a jungle that stretched for miles and miles -and the tangle in it was so thick that a monkey could barely -get through without squeezing. Deep in the forest there -was a blackness like the blackness of night. The trunks -of the trees were so large that three men holding hands -could not circle them and where there were no trees, there -were vines and snakelike lianas and thorn-bushes and flowers -so great that a man could lie down to sleep in the shade of -them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The first day the brothers took a great space, piling the -trees at one corner, clearing the tangle and leaving all as -smooth as the water of a lake. They sang as they worked, -and they sang as they rested in the heat of the day, and the -organ bird and the flute bird answered them from the gold-green -shade. So pleasant was their music that the old -iguana, though he was as big as a man, came from his resting -place in the trees to listen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Seeing how things were going, old Hunbatz in the dark -of the forest grew very angry, fearing that his hiding place -would soon dwindle and vanish. So he went to the great -gray owl, his friend, and they talked the matter over between -them. The owl told Hunbatz that he must set the -father’s heart against the brothers, telling him that the boys -were lazy and instead of working spent their time in playing -with the ball and in singing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Go,” said the owl, “to their father, and when he asks -how the lads fare with their work, say to him:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>They sing and they play</p> -<p class='line0'>For half of the day.</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>It may fall out that he will grow angry and cut off their -heads, and thus the forest will be safe for us.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That seemed to the wizard to be good advice, and before -the close of the day’s work, old Hunbatz, who could fly by -flapping his hands in a certain way like a swimmer, cast -himself into the air and flew with great swiftness to the -place where the father lived. But he took care to dress -himself like a woodman.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well met,” said the father, seeing Hunbatz, but thinking -him no wizard of course. “From where do you come?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“From the other side of the forest,” was the reply.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then perchance you saw my two sons who are clearing -the forest,” said the father.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I did,” said Hunbatz.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And how are the boys doing?” asked the father.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At that old Hunbatz shook his head sadly and answered, -as the owl had told him:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“They sing and they play</p> -<p class='line0'>For half of the day.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>That, you know, was quite untrue, for while they sang, -there was no stopping of work, and as for the play, it is true -that they threw the ball from one to the other, but so clever -were they that one would throw the ball so high that it -would take hours and hours before it came down again, and -of course, while it was in the air, the brothers went on working.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I would cut off their heads to teach them a lesson,” said -Hunbatz, “if they were sons of mine.” Then he turned on -his heel and went away, not flying until he was out of the -father’s sight, for he did not wish any man to know that he -was a wizard.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To be sure, the good man was grieved and his face -clouded, when he heard the tale of Hunbatz, but he said -nothing, and, a short time after, the brothers came home. -He was much surprised when, asking the lads how much -work they had done that day, they told him that they had -cleared off the space of forest he had bidden them to. After -much thought he told them that the next day they would -have to do twice as much as before. The brothers thought -the new task hard, but they went to work with a good will -and on the second day the trees fell like corn before a man -with a machete, and before night they had finished that -which they had been given to do.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Again old Hunbatz flew through the air to the father and -tried to set him against the boys, and again that night, when -the boys were home, their task was set for the next day twice -as much as the day before.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was the same the third day, and the fourth, until at last -the boys came to a point where by the mightiest working -they could not move a stick or a blade of grass more. And -yet, because of old Hunbatz, the father set them a task still -greater.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the fifth day things looked very hopeless for the boys, -and their hearts were sad as they looked at the forest and -saw the task that their father had set them to do. They -went to work feeling for the first time it would be impossible -for the sun to go down on their finished task, and the -heart of old Hunbatz was glad. But the birds in the forest -were silent that morning, for they too knew that there were -sad hearts in the brothers. Even the grasshoppers and the -mosquitoes and the bees were still, and as for the boys, not a -note of joy could they raise.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then to them came the iguana, wise old lizard who knew -everything that went on in the forest, and as soon as he had -heard what the brothers had to say he smiled and called -on them to listen, after making sure that there was no living -creature to hear except the birds, for of them he had no fear, -knowing that the birds tell no secrets.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Be cheerful,” said the iguana, “and I will tell you a -charm. It is this: mark about the handles of your working -tools rings of black, white, red, and green, and before you -start to work, sing:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>I must do what I can,</p> -<p class='line0'>Is the thought of a man,</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>and if your hearts are brave, you will see what happens.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Having said this and smiled on the brothers, the old -iguana climbed into a tree and stretched himself along the -branch of it where he could best see, and the birds gathered -in a great circle, a matchless melody going up to the sky.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So the brothers took their axes, their spades, their hoes, -and their machetes, and painted about the handles of them -rings of black and of white and of red and of green, and -their voices rang sweet and clear as they sang, as the iguana -had told them:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“I must do what I can,</p> -<p class='line0'>Is the thought of a man.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>No sooner had the last words passed than the whole company -of birds broke out into a chorus, singing, chattering, -chirping, whistling, screaming, each according to its manner -and, without hands touching them, axes went to work -cutting down trees, machetes chopped at lianas and vines, -spades cleared and dug; and trees, bushes, and weeds piled -themselves in great heaps at the edge of the clearing, so that -in less than an hour the whole task was done. Then it was -that all things in the forest were glad and the good iguana -smiled broadly. The very monkeys joined in and, catching -the ball which the brothers threw, tossed it from tree to tree -until it passed through the whole jungle and back again.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But old Hunbatz was angry beyond measure, so angry -that he whirled about on his heels three hundred times, -turning so rapidly that he looked like a storm cloud, and his -long whiskers were tangled about him like a mantle. But -the faster he whirled, the more his anger boiled, and, flapping -his hands, he shot into the air, going so swiftly that -his very clothes were scorched.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How are the boys?” asked the father, when Hunbatz -stood before him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For answer, Hunbatz screamed: “Your boys are idle fellows!</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>They sing and they play</p> -<p class='line0'>For half of the day.</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>Had I such sons, I would cut their heads off to teach them a -lesson.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Said the father: “To-morrow I shall go to the forest, and -if you have not spoken truth, then this arrow which has -never yet missed a mark shall find one in your heart. But -if it is as you say, then my sons shall feel my anger.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Old Hunbatz did not like that at all, for well he knew -that the hunter’s arrows were never wasted. So back he -flew to the owl and the two of them whispered together. -That night there was a great gathering of the animals: of -the hare, the deer, the rat, the jaguar, the puma, the opossum, -and many others. The rat, the deer, and the rabbit -led them, and in a wonderfully short time, not only were all -things restored and the work of the day undone, but the -trees and the bushes and the vines and the lianas that had -been moved on the other days were put back in their old -places, growing and blooming, so that all was as though the -brothers had never been at the forest at all.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sad was the hour the next morning when the hunter came -with his two sons and saw the forest as though hand had -never touched it. The brothers could not believe their -eyes. Grinning from the thick of a rubber tree was the -face of Hunbatz, and on his shoulder was the owl. For a -moment the father thought to cut off the heads of the lads -to teach them a lesson, but on second thought he told them -that he would give them another chance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What should have been done is not done,” he said. “I -will grant you a day and a night to clear all the forest as -you told me it was cleared. To-morrow morning I will -come again, and see whether all is well done.” At that he -left them and went his way.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No sooner had he gone than the two brothers went to see -the iguana, who told them of the witchery of the owl and -Hunbatz and bade them to act as before. So they made -the ring about the handles of their working tools once more -and sang:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“I must do what I can,</p> -<p class='line0'>Is the thought of a man,”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>and, as on the day before, axes, machetes, and spades went -to work and in a short time all was clear again. Then the -iguana told the brothers of the evil that Hunbatz had done -and bade them set traps and keep watch that night. So -three traps were made and set, and when night fell, from all -parts of the forest there came animals led by the rat, the -deer, and the rabbit, and old Hunbatz and the owl watched -from the dark caves of the leaves.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No sooner had the first three animals stepped into the -clearing than they were caught fast in the traps, whereupon -the rest of the animals turned and fled. Then the brothers -rushed to the traps. The rabbit gave a great jump when he -felt the jaws close upon his beautiful catlike tail, but it was -chopped off close to the body. The deer, with his tail like -a plume, fared no better. So both deer and rabbit fled to -the woods ashamed, and, as you see for yourself, have had -no tails ever since. As for the rat, he was far too wise to -jump as the rabbit and deer had done. But seeing the -brothers coming, he pulled and pulled and pulled so that -all the beautiful hair was stripped, leaving him with but a -bare and ugly thing of a tail as you see to-day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The next morning when the hunter-father came, there -was the forest cleared and all in good order as the boys had -said. So he sought out old Hunbatz, who flapped his hands -and flew for very fear. But so fast he went that his clothes -were burnt off, and his skin was baked into a hard crust by -the great heat, and he fell to the earth and so became what -we call an armadillo. As for the two brothers, they lived -very happily for many, many years, and things went well -with them and the land they lived in was a land of good -harvest and fruit trees.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So now you know the Tale of Three Tails and if you do -not believe it, look at the rat and the deer and the rabbit -and the armadillo, and see for yourself.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo14.jpg' alt='' id='illo14' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>THE MAGIC DOG</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/D.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='D'/>OWN where the forest is so thick that the sun -rarely pierces the leafy roof, where there are -mosses and ferns and little plants of the brightest -green, where parrots screech and thousands of little monkeys -chatter in the trees, there stands a great white temple. -Once, long ago, there was joy and gladness there, and -flower-crowned people danced and sang, but now vines hang -about the doors and window holes and there are tall rank -weeds in the courtyard. Still, it is even now very beautiful, -though sad to see.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Long years before this temple was built, there lived a -king, and his people loved him, and he on his part loved -not only his people, but every flower that grew, every grass -blade and every leaf on bush and tree. Where he came -from, none knew, but there were those who said that he had -come from the sea, not in a ship with men, but alone, in a -great and beautiful sea-shell. So they called him, in their -own tongue, The King Who Came in a Sea-shell. And -when he went about among his people he wore a headdress -of gold-green feathers, a feather cloak of turquoise blue, -and about his middle was a golden belt set with glittering -precious stones. On his feet were golden sandals and in -his hand he bore a great spear of silver. The spear he -carried for a sign only, for there was no fighting in those -days, and it was a time when all went very well. Every -one had enough to eat and to drink and to wear, so that -none had to worry about the day to come. Men loved -diamonds and emeralds and rubies for their beauty, and -just as they loved the sight of the tiny rainbow in a sparkling -dew drop. As for other things, corn grew so large that a -single ear was as much as a man could carry and cotton -grew not only white, as we see it now, but red and blue and -yellow and scarlet and black and orange and violet and -green.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was the daughter of the Sea-shell King who had taught -the people how to grow coloured cotton, and she, with her -silky cloud of hair, was the most beautiful creature ever -seen. When she walked about, the air was sweet with wonderful -perfume, birds sang with joy as though their -throats would burst, and slim drooping ferns nodded a welcome.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The story of the beauty and goodness of the maiden ran -through all the land, and young men who sought her hand -came from far and wide. So many were her suitors that a -day was set apart each week, when all the people gathered -to see the young men display their powers or their gifts or -their clevernesses. Some would shoot with the bow and -others cast the lasso. Singers sang the songs they had made -and musicians played their flutes so well that the slender -boughs bent to listen. There were gifts, too, and some -brought rare stones cut into the shapes of birds and animals -and flowers, but not one man had touched the heart of the -princess, though she was gracious to all.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now before the king came, an evil creature of a witch -had ruled the land, and she had come from the Land of the -Shaking Mud. Somehow, the Sea-shell King had driven -her away and, that she should worry his people no more, -he had set a boundary, and guards were on watch day and -night to prevent her in her mischief. So she spent the day -in her cave, coming out only at night to prowl about the -boundary, and then only when there was no moon. Her -name was Tlapa.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One day there came to the king a man in rags, who said -that his name was Maconahola, and the king was glad to -see him, the more so because age was creeping upon the -king, and he sought someone wise and brave enough to rule -in his place. But no sooner had the princess looked at the -stranger than she cast down her eyes, saying that he had the -face of the man she had seen in a dream. When the king -asked her questions, she said that in her dream she had followed -the stranger about, had slept at his feet, had tended -his fields and made his clothes. At that her father was -greatly astonished, for that his daughter should be the -servant of a man who came clad in rags seemed strange -indeed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The second day, Maconahola was asked if he bore gifts, -but he showed his empty hands. Then, to the end that no -idle or useless man should be in that land, a time was set -and Maconahola was ordered to appear before the young -men and compete with them. At the test Maconahola -stood very well. When the best bowman sent his arrow into -the exact centre of the mark, Maconahola drew his bow -and aimed so carefully that his arrow split the arrow of -the other man. Nor was he less skilful with the lasso, casting -his loop so that it fell about the smallest thing aimed at. -It was much the same when the swiftest runner was brought. -To be sure, he ran like a deer, but Maconahola ran like the -wind, leaving him far behind. As for the singing contest, -when the stranger sang the very birds were hushed and, the -song being finished, a great quetzal with jet-black wings, a -scarlet breast, and head and back of gold-green feathers, -flew down and sat on the shoulder of Maconahola.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then a great shout went up, and all the bowmen, the lasso -throwers, the runners, and the singers came forward and -greeted Maconahola, for there was no jealousy in that land, -nor was there envy, and each had it in his mind to strive -for that which seemed best, caring nothing for self-advancement. -As for the king, being very old and tired, he was -glad indeed to find a man who might become ruler in his -place. So he stepped down from his high place and cast -his coat made of a thousand turquoise feathers about the -stranger’s shoulders. All went very well indeed, and the -princess was happy to have found the man of her dreams, -and the two of them loved all things, so that all things embraced -and loved them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But Tlapa, the witch with long crooked nails and black -teeth and ice-like eyes, learned of all this from the bats. -Loving evil, and war, and violence, she was angry that another -should come into the land to rule when the old king -died, for she had long waited for the breath to pass from -his body so that she might rule again. Seeing how the -people greeted Maconahola, she became tight-lipped and -slit-eyed. One night she went to Roraima, a place of rocks, -where lived a wild man of terrible strength who sat in his -cave all day, crouched over a fire of smoking green wood. -Over the cave fire Tlapa and the wild man whispered long -and long, while bats flapped and fluttered and white worms -crawled close to listen, for they plotted how to dispose of -Maconahola. The wild man was all for dashing into the -country, trampling down the guards that stood in his way, -and beating the stranger with his great club of long, blunt -thorns. But that Tlapa would not hear of, knowing that -Maconahola could shoot an arrow that would speedily put -an end to the wild man of the rocks. Far more crafty was -she, remembering and telling the wild man of a strange -plant that grew in the gloomy depths of a forest far away, -where, because of the tangled thicket, she could never go.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No sooner had the wild man learnt of the strange plant -than he sprang to his feet and with great bounds went crashing -through the forest, overturning trees that stood in his -way, upsetting huge rocks, splashing through swamps, and -climbing a rocky precipice like a wild cat until he came to -the place where grew the evil weed. He was back again -in his cave before midnight. Taking the weed, Tlapa dried -it over a fire of rotten wood and crushed it into powder. -The powder she cast into the air and, carried by the wind, -it fell where the king’s people lived. Wherever it fell, -wherever it touched, there grew hate and suspicion, jealousy -and greed. Where the dust fell on plant or flower, though -there was but the slightest fleck of it, there was immediately -a withering and a dying; the very corn shrivelled and -shrunk. Where had been flowers, there grew in a single -night dense, thorny tangle. The very weather changed and -the pleasant cool passed away, so that the days were hot -and the nights icy cold. Some men, touched with a strange -greed, laid claim to great tracts of earth, bidding others begone, -and so for the first time in that land men quarrelled -and fought. Even the old king changed a little and, seeing -the trouble that had come upon his land, was persuaded -to believe that Maconahola was the cause.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Word passed from mouth to mouth and whispering -tongues poisoned truth, and when Maconahola took his -walks, grieving to see the withered flowers and fruits, people -hid from his gaze. Thoughts passed to words and -words to deeds, and one day a crowd turned on Maconahola -and with sticks and stones drove him across the border and -into a forest where, except for the cry of a distant bird, it -was still as midnight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sad at heart, Maconahola built a little shelter of branches -and leaves and day after day wandered alone. Nor had he -living company until one day there came to him a dog, -footsore and thin. The creature was hungry and weak and -thorn-torn, and Maconahola took it in, washed and tended -it and shared with it his meal. And a poor enough meal it -was being of small berries and drops of tree gum and little -roots.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the morning when he went down to the stream to -bathe, the dog did not follow him, and on his return, to his -vast astonishment, he found in front of his house a field -with growing corn and many food plants. It had grown -up in less than an hour. So that evening he was full of -gladness, and with his dog walked about in full enjoyment -of the beautiful green earth, thankful for the humming bees -and the gentle wind that moved the leaves, thankful for the -only living creature that was with him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the next day when he returned from his stream, having -left the dog sleeping in the sun, he found that his little -bower of branches and leaves had been transformed to a -house with furnishings all simple, clean, and bright. And -around it were glorious flowers and fruits, and in the trees -birds sang, and humming-birds, looking like flashing emeralds, -darted through the leaves. So again his heart was full -of joy and thankfulness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The third day he made as if to go to the river, but instead -turned and hid himself behind the house to watch. -Then he saw the wonder, for the dog threw off its skin and -there stood the beautiful maiden whom he had known as -the king’s daughter. At once she set about making garments -of coloured cotton for him, and so rapidly she wrought -that they fell from her hands like flower petals. Then she -busied herself weaving a hammock of silk grass.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Maconahola made no sign, but went down to the river as -usual and when he returned the dog ran to meet him, thrusting -its moist nose into his hand. But the next day again -he hid, and again the dog cast off its skin and the princess -went to the garden, and to her came a cloud of humming -birds. Swiftly Maconahola ran to the dogskin, picked it -up and threw it into the fire, where it burned like dry -leaves. Then the princess saw what had been done and -gave a great cry of joy for the spell was broken; and -Maconahola knew a fresh vigour of soul.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hand in hand, they returned to the land, and the old -king seeing them coming went out to meet them. And all -the people were with him, overjoyed that Maconahola had -returned, seeing the evil that had come upon them had not -been removed with his departure. Overjoyed, too, were -they to see the princess again, for none knew to what place -she had gone, knowing only that she had vanished one -evening, and at the same time a dog had run swiftly through -their midst. For certainly, Tlapa the witch had laid some -enchantment upon her with evil design. But evil, though it -may touch the good, cannot for ever bind it, wherefore the -maiden resumed her own form some part of every day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was a great meeting of all the people then, and -Maconahola lost no time in seeking out the witch Tlapa, -whom he killed with a silver pointed arrow shot through -her heart. As for the wild man of Roraima, it is said that -learning of the death of the witch, he dashed away in great -terror and, sinking in the Shaking Mud, was seen no more. -But the King of the Sea-shell made Maconahola a ruler, -and on the spot where the bower had been built and where -he first saw the dog there was erected the temple of white -stone which you may see for yourself to this day if you go -to Orinoco.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo23.jpg' alt='' id='illo23' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>THE CALABASH MAN</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/T.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='T'/>HERE was once a woman who had an only son, -and they lived in great contentment in a little house -by the side of the lake and at the foot of a mountain. -If you go to Guiana, you may see both lake and -mountain to this day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In all that land there was no lad so straight, so tall, so -graceful as Aura, and, what is better still, he was kind and -gentle. At the close of the day when he came from his -fishing, he and his mother would sit in the cool of the -evening, watching the glory of the sunset and listening to -the music of the silver cascade which fell from the mountain -into the lake. Often the forest animals would come -and play about before their house. The lively little agouti -would sport with the black jaguar and the great armadillo -would let the coral snake coil on his shell, while birds of -wondrous beauty flashed through the leaves of the trees like -living fire. Great butterflies with silky white and green -wings fluttered about the flowers showing their beauty, and -from them the old mother learned the way to weave bright -designs into the hammocks that she made of silk grass. -At such times, before the sun dropped into its purple bed of -cloud, and before the million glowworms lit their lights, the -queen ant would sing:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“From forest and hill</p> -<p class='line0'>We come at your will.</p> -<p class='line0'>Call, Aura, call!”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>All went very well until one day Aura, going to the lake, -found his basket net broken and torn, and taking it from -the water saw with surprise that the fish which had been in -it were eaten. Such a thing had never happened before, -for in forest and hill he knew no enemy. As he stood in -wonderment, the torn basket in his hand, he heard a voice -behind him say:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“From forest and hill</p> -<p class='line0'>We come at your will.</p> -<p class='line0'>Call, Aura, call!”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>Looking around he saw a woodpecker, and the bright beady -eyes of the bird were looking at him. Thereupon, Aura -told the woodpecker to watch well, and setting a new basket -net in the water he went a little way into the forest to -gather wild fruits. Not far had he gone when he heard the -watching woodpecker call, “Toc, Toc!” Swiftly he ran, -but though he sped like a deer he was too late, for the -second basket net was destroyed even more completely than -the first and again the fish were devoured.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A third net was set, and this time he called upon the -cuckoo to watch while he gathered his fruits. Very soon -he heard the “Pon, pon!” of his new watcher and Aura -lost no time in running to the lakeside. There in the water -and close to the basket net was the flat, mud-coloured head -of a swamp alligator with its dull and heavy-lidded eyes. -Quick as lightning, Aura fitted an arrow to his bow and let -fly, and the shaft struck the reptile between the eyes. A -moment later the beast disappeared into the water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The basket net had been partly broken by the alligator, -but Aura mended it and again entered the forest. But before -long he heard the cuckoo call, and much louder this -time, so he ran like the wind, fitting an arrow to his bow as -he went. On the lake-bank stood a beautiful Indian -maiden in a gown that looked like silver, and she was weeping -bitterly. At that Aura’s heart was touched with pity, -for he could see no living thing unhappy and remain happy -himself. Gently he took her by the hand and asked her to -tell him her name.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Anu-Anaitu,” she said, and smiled through her tears like -the sun after a summer rain.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“From where do you come?” was his next question.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Far, far away, where the great owl lives,” she made -reply, and pointed in the direction of the dark forest.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And who is your father?” he asked, and at that there was -a ripple of water rings on the lake and Aura thought he -saw the nose of the alligator.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But she made no answer to his question. Instead, she -covered her face with her hands and bent her head, so that -her hair fell about her like a cloud.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Seeing her strange grief Aura said no more, but led her -to his mother who received her kindly, and for many months -the three of them dwelt together very happily. Yet whenever -Anaitu thought of her father, she wept bitterly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At last there came a day when Aura asked the maiden to -be his wife and told her that if she would give him her hand, -the two of them would make a journey to her own land so -that she might say farewell to her people, telling them that -she had made her home in a land of peace and brightness -with those who loved her. Hearing that, little Anaitu wept -with terror, telling Aura of the fearful journey that would -be theirs, through a place where were great bats and gray -hairy spiders and centipedes, and harmful and fearful -things.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then stay with my mother and I shall go alone,” said -Aura, seeing her fear. “And I will seek out your father -and tell him that all is well with you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That is worse still,” cried the maiden, “for there is an -evil spirit in my land and my father is bewitched. Seeing -you, he will destroy you and your mother and me as well, -once he learns where we are.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Greatly puzzled with all this, Aura went to see a wise -old hermit who lived at the end of the lake, and to him he -told his troubles and fears. After much thought, the hermit -told Aura that he would make his journey in safety if he -feared not and carried himself like a man. “And,” said -he, “if it should come to pass that you are offered the choice -of things, see to it that you choose the simplest.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>More than that the wise man would not say, so Aura went -home and straightway prepared his canoe, persuaded -Anaitu to go with him, and presently they set off.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The way was fearful enough, as the maiden had said, for -much of it was through dark forests and between high river -banks where the tree roots reached out black and twisted -like evil serpents. Again, they had to pass through swamps -where alligators slept and strange yellow beasts with heads -large as houses lay hidden. And for many long hours they -wound in and out of tangled jungles where the sun never -shone and in the depths of which were strange things that -roared so that the very trees trembled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After many days they came to a smooth stretch of sand, -and then the maiden told him that they had arrived in the -land of her father.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And now I must leave you,” she said, “but my mother -will come and offer you one of three things. See to it, dear -Aura, that you choose wisely, for all depends upon your -choice.” At that she waved him a farewell and went up -the bank and so passed from his sight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Before long there came down the bank a wrinkled old -woman with sorrowful eyes, and she bore three gourds. -Setting them down by the side of the canoe, she bade Aura -choose one. On the top of one gourd was a cover of gold, -on the second a cover of silver, and on the third a cover of -clay. Lifting the covers, Aura saw in the first fresh blood. -In the gourd with the silver top he saw flesh, and in the -third, a piece of cassava bread. Aura bore in mind the -words of the old hermit and quickly chose the gourd that -held the bread.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You have done well,” said the old woman. “This is a -land where men believe in gold alone, and much blood is -spilled because of it. Far better is it that men should -choose that which is in the earth. Now having so chosen, -I will lead you to my husband, whose name is Kaikoutji. -But here cruelty reigns everywhere and he may tear you to -pieces.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Aura had no mind to do otherwise than go through with -his task and so told the old woman. Whereupon she led -him to the top of the bank, where he again saw his Anaitu, -and the maiden and her mother hid Aura in a forest near -the house, while they went in to prepare Kaikoutji for the -visit. Hearing that the young man who loved his daughter -was near, the old man fell into a most marvellous rage and -so great was his anger that he rushed out and bent trees as -though they were reeds and bit rocks as a man bites a crust -of bread. So there was much trouble before he was persuaded -to see the gentle Aura. Even then, Anaitu begged -Aura to return, but he threw his arms around her and was -gone before she could say a word.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Strange things happened as he ran to the house. Great -branches broke and fell without hands touching them and -stones leaped from the earth and whizzed close to his ears, -but he hastened on and entered into a hall. Kaikoutji was -not there; but as Aura looked round, he came in running. -The bewitched old man was strangely decked out with bones -and teeth which dangled at the ends of strings fastened to his -arms and legs and his head was covered with a great calabash -painted green, in the front of which were two holes -pierced, through which he looked. For a moment Kaikoutji -stood, then giving a terrible howl he began to leap -about, waving his arms and rattling the dangling bones and -teeth—a very painful sight to Aura. The howling the man -made was terrible. After much of this he stopped, turning -the holes of his calabash on Aura.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What can you do?” he yelled. “What can you do? -Can you bend trees? Can you bite rocks? Can you leap -like this?” Again he commenced to dance up and down, -each leap being higher than the one before it, so that at last -his calabash struck the roof.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When he had quieted down again, Aura said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I cannot leap. I cannot bend trees and I cannot bite -rocks as you do. But I can work with my hands and make -whatever you wish made.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that, Kaikoutji whirled about and gave three -mighty leaps, rattling his bones and dangling teeth furiously.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Make me a magic stool,” he shouted. “And carve it of -wood, with the head of a jaguar at one end and my head -carved at the other. And see to it that you have it finished -by sunrise, or else you die.” Then he gave a yell, whirled -about and rushed from the hall.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Aura saw that the task would be hard, even if he did -what he had been set to do in the quiet of his own home. -But without having seen the face of Kaikoutji he wondered -greatly how he would complete his work. For all that he -took his knife, selected a block of wood and went to work, -and he worked with such a will that by midnight he had -it all finished but the rough place at the end where was to -appear the likeness of Kaikoutji. So he went to the old -wife who had brought him the gourds and begged her to -describe the features of her husband. But that she refused -to do, saying that if she did so, Kaikoutji, who knew everything, -being an enchanted man, would kill them all. An -hour passed and everything was the same, Aura’s work unfinished, -his will as strong as ever. Then to him came the -gentle maiden who took him by the hand and led him into -another chamber where the old man sat in a corner asleep, -his green calabash over his head. In another corner of the -room was a hammock and into that Aura crept, thinking -that if he kept quiet and remained hidden, by some chance -the calabash might fall off and the face of the man be seen. -But after looking long and seeing no move on the part of the -sleeping man, he grew weak and weary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Out of the corner near him came a small voice which -said:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“From forest and hill</p> -<p class='line0'>We come at your will.</p> -<p class='line0'>Call, Aura, call!”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>and looking that way he saw a mouse. At that the heart of -Aura was glad, the more as he saw the mouse run to the -sleeping man and begin to nibble at his hand. For a moment -it looked as if Kaikoutji would take off his calabash, -for he was plainly annoyed. But instead, by chance, he -set his hand on the mouse, caught it, and flung it to the end -of the room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Again a voice was heard and this time Aura saw a -spider dropping from the ceiling, and as it dropped it said:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“From forest and hill</p> -<p class='line0'>We come at your will.</p> -<p class='line0'>Call, Aura, call!”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>Over to the sleeper ran the spider, but matters were no -better than before, for Kaikoutji dropped his hand, caught -the spider, and threw it after the mouse.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No sooner had Kaikoutji fallen asleep again than there -came into the room ants by hundreds and thousands, and -leading them was the queen ant who sang:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“From forest and hill</p> -<p class='line0'>We come at your will.</p> -<p class='line0'>Call, Aura, call!”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>Like little soldiers they marched on the sleeper, swarming -over his hands, his body, his legs. Under the calabash they -went, a half hundred of them. That was too much even for -Kaikoutji, and he leaped to his feet, dashed the calabash to -the earth, and fell to brushing off the ants in lively manner. -But the calabash was broken to pieces by the force of the -fall, and for the rest of that night he slept with his face -exposed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From his hiding place it did not take long for Aura to -learn his ugly features. Nor did it escape his notice that -between the eyes was an arrow mark, and by that he knew -that Kaikoutji was also the alligator he had shot in the lake. -When he was sure that the old man was asleep, he slipped -out quietly and went to his work, and with such spirit he -wrought that before sunrise he had carved the face on the -end of the stool. Better still, so exact was his work, that -all who saw it knew the face of Kaikoutji the terrible. -But when the old man saw it and noted the arrow mark between -the eyes, he leaped higher than he had ever leaped -before, having no calabash to hinder him, and declared that -the task had been too easy and that another must be done.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Build me,” he said, “a house of feathers before sundown, -and see to it that there is no bird in the forest from -which there is not a feather taken.” Then, giving strict -orders that no one should enter the part of the forest in -which Aura was put, he leaped up and down several times, -screaming horribly, after which he hastened away.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When all was quiet, Aura lifted his head and sang:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“From forest and hill</p> -<p class='line0'>Oh, come. ’Tis my will.</p> -<p class='line0'>I call. I call.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>Then there was a great rushing sound and from everywhere -came birds: sea birds and land birds, river birds and lake -birds, birds that flew, ran, and waded. There were sober -brown birds, and birds more glorious than the rainbow. -There was a cloud of humming-birds, glittering like powdered -gold, and there were proud ostriches. Chakars dropped -from the sky singing, and blood-red flamingoes raced -with golden-crested wrens. There were songbirds, and -silent birds, and birds whose cry was like the sound of a -golden bell. There were storks, hawks, vultures, condors, -swans, lapwings, and mocking-birds.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Not a moment did they lose. In and out and round about -they went, weaving wonderfully, their busy beaks at work, -and before an hour had passed there stood the most wonderful -house of feathers that the eye of man ever saw. In -the light of the sun it shone green-gold, violet, purple, -brown, white, and scarlet. And when the last feather was -woven the condor called, and the beating of so many wings, -as the birds left, made the very air throb. When all was -again silent it seemed to Aura that the work had been done -in the twinkling of an eye.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The minute the sun touched the edge of the world Kaikoutji -came howling and leaping. When he saw the -feather house he stood for a moment with open mouth. So -angry he was at the sight that his tongue was dry and -parched and he could say nothing. But the glory of what -he saw dazzled and blinded him, and with a howl he turned -and plunged into the depths of the forest and was seen no -more. Some say that he was drowned in the Lake of Pitch.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But Aura and Anaitu lived in the house of feathers and -from that day to this the people of that land have been kind -and gentle and have forgotten the evil days when cruelty -reigned everywhere. Also, they know now that there are -things more glorious than gold.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo35.jpg' alt='' id='illo35' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>NA-HA THE FIGHTER</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/I.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='I'/>N the Far South near Cape Horn there is a place of -many islands, and it is a corner of the world where -winds are piercing cold and great black clouds scurry -across a lead-gray sky. From snowclad mountains slide -rivers of ice from which break off mighty pieces to fall into -the sea with thunder-sounds. It is a land wrinkled into -narrow valleys that are always gloomy and cold and wet. -Cold, ice cold, is the gray-green sea, and the wild cries of -a million sea birds fill the air. Sometimes great albatrosses -sweep up the channels between the high, jagged mountains -or drop low to sail over penguin-crowded rocks, and sometimes -the mountain echoes are deep-toned with the booming -of walrus and the barking of seals. But people are few. -There are Indians there, poor gentle folk who fish in the -sea and who know nothing but a life of cold, and they paddle -or sit crouching in their canoes, taking no heed of the -biting wind and the snow that falls on their naked bodies.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Travelling in that part of the world, I came upon a boy -who had been left, somehow, on an island not much larger -than a good-sized playground. He must have been there -alone for some months, for he had lived on mussels and -shell-fish, and the empty shells formed a good-sized heap -about his sleeping place. Though I questioned him closely -later, when we came to know one another, I could never -learn how he got there. He was, I suppose, about ten years -old, and certainly bright and intelligent. As for his memory -it was quite remarkable, and he picked up words and -the names of things very rapidly. Altogether, he stayed -with me for three months, and I was often astonished at -the aptness with which he did some things, as, for instance, -the making of an arrow-head from a piece of broken bottle. -But other things he seemed quite unable to do. A knot in -a rope puzzled him sorely and for a long time a belt-buckle -was a deep mystery to him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One day I found that he was trying to tell me a story -about a seal, for we had seen several that morning. For -awhile I paid no attention, being occupied at something or -other that required care, but soon it dawned on me that he -was very earnest and that the tale was a long one. Fearing -that I had missed much by my preoccupation and carelessness, -I made him tell it to me a second and a third and a -fourth time, and presently made shift to piece things together, -and so get a fair notion of his story.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have called the tale by the name of the hero and have -set it down in my own words and as I understood it. Were -I to write it in his words it would go something like this:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Many day, a far day, under-water man walk water. -Eat man my father’s father; men cry much hard.” There -would have to be indicated, too, much gesticulation and arm -waving by way of illustration and emphasis. . . . So -here is the tale.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>Long years ago, the people of that land were sadly at the -mercy of the wild, hairy folk who lived under the sea. To -be sure, there were long periods when they were left in -peace to do their fishing, though from their canoes they -could look down into the waters and see the under-sea people -walking on the sands at the bottom, very shadowy and -vague, though, in the greenish light. Still, it was clear -enough, for those who watched, to see their hair-covered -bodies, their long and serpent-like arms and their noseless -faces.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But again, there were times when the under-sea men -marched in great numbers out of the water and caught the -land men, dragging them down to their deaths. In such -numbers they came that there was no resisting them. Nor -was there escape, for the under-sea people could walk on -the water, going faster than the wind itself. With ear-splitting -booming they would form themselves into a wide -circle about the canoes, then draw nearer in wild rushes or -strange slidings and drag the frightened men into the green-gray -water. Sometimes a few only were taken and those -that were left, looking down, might see the under-sea folk -dragging their fellows to great rocks to which they bound -them with ropes of leathery kelp.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One day the under-sea people caught Na-Ha, a youth -strong as a wild wind, whose muscles were knotted like oak -branches, one who smiled when danger came. Five of the -noseless people attacked him and of the five, Na-Ha sent -three to the bottom of the sea with broken necks, for though -he smote them with his clenched fist alone, they staggered -back and swiftly sank, and the blood that gushed from their -mouths made a spreading pink cloud in the water. But -soon the sea was alive with wild, raging faces and the roaring -of them was like the southeast wind in the forest trees, -yet Na-Ha stood in his little canoe, cold and calm, and the -smile did not leave his lips. Stealthily they crept toward -him, none at first daring to attack, until with a fierce noise -and clamour all rushed together, leaping upon him in his -canoe and bearing it down by sheer press and weight, -Na-Ha in the midst of the tangled mass of hair-covered -creatures. Some who saw that fight said that the sudden -silence when the waters closed over them hurt the ears like -a thunder clap, but the true hearted Na-Ha was the last to -disappear, and while he smote the black-haired ones furiously, -the smile of scorn was still on his face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Like a picture in a dream some saw the fight among the -rocks at the bottom of the sea, saw the noseless ones crowding -about the lad, saw others leaping over the heads of those -who did not dare to near him, saw others again creeping in -the sea sand, trailing kelp ropes to bind him. Many fell in -that battle under the sea and the low waves that lapped the -shore were red with blood that day. How it ended none -knew, for with the dying light and the sand clouds that hung -in the water all became gray at last and then swiftly faded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That night the land people wept for Na-Ha the untamed, -Na-Ha whose spear was like lightning, Na-Ha whose canoe -rode the waves like the brown storm-birds. Tales were -whispered of how he never bent beneath a load, of how in -the blackest night he drove his boat before the storm, of -how once he swept out to sea after a great whale and slew -it, so that his people were saved from the hunger-death.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But with the screaming of the morning sea-gulls Na-Ha -came to them again, walking up out of the sea, and his face -was set and stern. Nor did he say a word until he had eaten -and thought awhile.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The tale he told was of the under-seas and of his wandering -after the battle in which he left so many dead in -bloody sand. He had been sore-pressed, he said, but had -broken away and come to a door in a cave, which he entered. -It was a vast cavern in which he found himself, so -vast that he could not at first see the end, and the roof of it -he never saw, it being lost in a strange, cool-green light. -The floor of the place was of gold dust and silver sand, and -out of it grew networks of white rocks about which swam -fish of many gay colours, while everywhere seaweeds -swayed in gently moving water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Soon he came to a place where, on a seat of white, sat a -woman with bent head, and she was fair of skin and her -golden hair floated in the water like a cloud. Being bidden, -Na-Ha told her the tale of the fight and how the earth people -were woe-ridden because of the evil work of the under-sea -folk.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Patiently she listened, her cheek on her hand and her eyes -large with grief, and when Na-Ha had done she told him -that there was but one way to free his people and that was -the way of the white death. Much more she told him and -then gave him a great sea-shell and made him know that -when he blew it the great cold that lies under the seven -stars would be freed and the under-sea people driven for all -time to their own place. Then she stepped from her seat, -and taking Na-Ha by the hand gazed at him long.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Many there are, Na-Ha, who live not to know of the -good that they do. He who looses the white death must -himself be stilled. This I tell you, Na-Ha, lest your heart -fail you,” she said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That was all, for he did not tell the tale of how he came -again to the land, but he showed them the great shell and -said that his mind was made up to free his own people, -though he himself slept the sleep. At that the people set -up a great shout and there were not wanting those who -offered to sound the blast, saying that it were better for -Na-Ha to lead the people. But that Na-Ha refused, and -added that the under-sea woman had told him that before -the blast was blown all the land people should take themselves -and their belongings to a far land under the sun, for -staying where they were, it would do but small good to -drive the under-sea people to their own place for ever, -seeing that they themselves must also be ice-stiffened.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then arose a confusion of talk, many being unwilling to -leave the land where their fathers and the fathers of their -fathers had lived, but Na-Ha prevailed and overruled -them, and soon the day came when there was a great movement -and canoes were loaded and the land people set off -for the country under the sun. So Na-Ha was left alone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Over the length and the breadth of the land Na-Ha -walked, to see if by mischance some had been left, but there -were none. And when the sea-hen and the albatross and -the gull and the brown storm-birds saw the hair-covered, -noseless people come out of the sea, when with the black -loneliness of night the snow came and the land waters were -prisoned under glassy ice, when the morning sun looked on -a world of rime and crystal frost, then Na-Ha put the great -shell to his lips and blew a blast that woke the echoes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So the world soon grew faint and sleepy and all living -creatures except the noseless ones fled or flew after the land -people, and there was strange stillness everywhere. Trees -that had been green grew horned and black and then ghost-white. -And the black wind came raging and furious, and -grinding, groaning ice-mountains swam in the sea and -locked the land, and hills were cased in beryl walls.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Seeing all that, for a time the under-sea folk were full -of delight, believing themselves to be masters of the land, -but soon they feared the glistening white of the world, the -black scurrying clouds, and the fast-thickening ice. So -they sought the sea, but no sea was there, only thick-ribbed -ice across which swept snow-laden, stinging winds, and instead -of the quiet of the under-water there was the calm of -the white death. Under the eaves of the rocks they -crouched, but it was small help, for with the biting cold they -shrivelled and shrank. Close they hugged themselves, -their elbows thrust into their hairy sides, their legs bent, -making themselves small. And thus they stayed, nevermore -to be as they were. For in that great cold the under-water -people became seals, and seals they remained.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Well and bravely stood Na-Ha while all this came to -pass, scornful of the death that clawed at him. Nor did he -lay down to die until the great cold had passed away and his -people returned to find the under-water folk forevermore -bound to their own place, powerless to harm, looking always -with wide, wondering eyes, lest the mighty Na-Ha again -steal upon them and bring the great white death.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo43.jpg' alt='' id='illo43' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>THE HUMMING-BIRD AND THE FLOWER</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/G.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='G'/>OOD morning, pretty flower!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good morning, little humming-bird!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“May I have some honey, please?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Certainly. Here is plenty. Help yourself.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thank you. It is very good of you. Is there anything -that I can do for you in return?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, I hear so little, seeing that I do not go abroad, that -I love to be told things. I wish that you would tell me how -you came to have so beautiful a dress. I have often wondered -as I saw you flashing past.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Have you indeed? Well, let me think. I believe I -have heard that it was because of a mouse, that I have it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A mouse? How can that be, busy little Colibrí? A -mouse, you know, is dull and gray.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then, Florecilla, if it was not a mouse, it was mud.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“My dear humming-bird, you <span class='it'>must</span> be wrong. You -know as well as I do that mud is dull and gray. Won’t -you stop your humming a moment and think?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ah, now I know. It was because of a panther.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Dear, dear Colibrí, that is worse still. A panther, did -you say? I must have heard wrong.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Isn’t that right, either? Well, it must have been all -three—the mouse, the mud, and the panther. So there -now. . . . But how sweet this honey is.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Indeed, I am glad that you find it so. But please tell -me about your pretty dress.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, yes. I forgot, thinking of the honey. One has so -much to think of. I remember now, perfectly well. It -was Paloma the dove who told me all about it yesterday, but -a day and a night is a very, very long time to remember a -long tale.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then tell me before you forget.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, once all humming-birds were gray.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“So I have heard.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, a big panther was going through the woods very -quietly, and he stepped on a mouse-nest and happened to -kill all the baby mice.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Dear me. I am so sorry to hear that.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“So when the mother mouse came to her home and saw -what had happened she was very much annoyed, saying that -the panther was too big and too clumsy and did not look -where he was going.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, Colibrí, she would be annoyed. You know I have -often thought how nice it would be if mice and panthers -and all creatures did not move about as they do. They -run about so and they jump and skip, and it is no wonder -that things happen. Suppose trees and flowers and bushes -were as restless as animals. Think how it would be with -great trees treading on little flowers, and thorn-bushes running -about and tearing down the gentle flores del aire and -scratching the tender skins of the grapes. Now if <span class='it'>I</span> were -queen, I would make a law so that all those forest creatures -that run on four legs should just stand and grow as we do, -and——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Please do not interrupt or I may forget the tale.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, I beg your pardon. Go on, please.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, of course the panther told the mother mouse how -it had happened and said that he was sorry and that he -would be more careful, but she scolded him and kept it in -her heart to punish him.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But, little Colibrí, if he said that he was sorry, and if it -could not be helped, then it seems to me——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Really, little flower, you <span class='it'>must</span> listen. You have no idea -how difficult it is to tell a tale. So please do not interrupt. -One day when the panther was asleep the mouse crept up -with some gum which she had taken from the tree and -sealed up the panther’s eyes. Then she took mud from the -laguna and plastered it over the gum, and then more gum -and more mud, so that the panther could not tell day from -night.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Dear me. That was very unkind and very dreadful. I -am as sorry for the panther as I am for the mother mouse.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, anyway, that proves that it was a mouse and a -panther and mud, just as I said.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But, dear humming-bird, how about the dress of many -colours?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am coming to that, but you interrupt so. The panther -roared and roared and roared, until the very softest of -his roars shook the esteros, and the alligators were frightened -and dived to the bottom of the water. Hearing all -that noise, a humming-bird asked the panther what the noise -was all about.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That was very good of the humming-bird. And what -did the panther say?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He told the humming-bird all about it and asked him -to kill the mouse. But that the humming-bird would not -do.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Of course not. <span class='it'>I</span> never killed a mouse.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“So then the panther said that if the humming-bird would -take away the gum and the mud so that he could see again, -he would do anything that he could in return. You see, -little flower, the panther is wise because he travels so much -and all things that travel know a great deal.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am not so sure of that, Colibrí. All this summer I -have travelled up this tree and so have gone a great distance, -but I know very little.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That is different. No one wants a flower to be wise. -To be beautiful is enough.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But please listen and do not talk so much.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am very sorry that I interrupted you, little humming-bird.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, the humming-bird told the panther that she wished -to have a beautiful dress, as beautiful as the dress of the sun -bird, and asked him to tell her where she could get bright -colours. Then before the panther answered, she asked -him to tell her how the lianas got the red and yellow and -purple for their blossoms.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This is the most interesting thing I have ever heard and -I hope the tale will not be short. Did the panther know?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Of course he knew. He told her that the flowers got -their colour from the earth and he also told her where there -was clay of many colours and where there were gold and -silver and rubies. So the humming-bird picked and -picked until the panther’s eyes were unsealed and the big -fellow gave a roar of gladness. All that day panther and -humming-bird worked, bringing coloured clay and coloured -sands, and silver and gold, and rubies and opals, and the -blue and crimson of sunset and the silver of the moon and -the stars, and the tender green of shady forests and the blackness -of ebony. Out of all these the humming-bird dressed -herself, and for misty-moving wings she took the spun silk -of the spider and the soft thread of the sumaha. And that -is how the humming-bird got her dress. There now.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am glad to know that, dear humming-bird, and I thank -you for telling me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And I, dear flower, thank you for the honey.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good-bye, then, if you must go.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good-bye, Florecilla. . . <span class='it'><span class='bold'>B-z-z-z-z. H-m-m-m-m-m—mmmmmm.</span></span>”</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo48b.jpg' alt='' id='illo48b' style='width:80%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo48a.jpg' alt='' id='illo48a' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>THE MAGIC BALL</h1></div> - -<h3><span style='font-size:smaller'>(A Tale of the Chuput Country)</span></h3> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/A.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='A'/> COLD-EYED witch lived in the Cordilleras and -when the first snow commenced to fall she was -always full of glee, standing on a rock, screaming -like a wind-gale and rubbing her hands. For it pleased -her to see the winter moon, the green country blotted out, -the valleys white, the trees snow-laden, and the waters ice-bound -and black. Winter was her hunting time and her -eating time, and in the summer she slept. So she was full -of a kind of savage joy when there were leaden clouds and -drifting gales, and she waited and watched, waited and -watched, ever ready to spring upon frost-stiffened creatures, -that went wandering down to the warmer lowlands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This witch was a wrinkled creature, hard of eye, thin-lipped, -with hands that looked like roots of trees, and so -tough was her skin that knife could not cut nor arrow pierce -it. In the country that swept down to the sea she was -greatly feared, and hated, too. The hate came because by -some strange magic she was able to draw children to her -one by one, and how she did it no man knew. But the -truth is that she had a magic ball, a ball bright and shining -and of many colours, and this she left in places where children -played, but never where man or woman could see it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One day, near the lake called Oretta, a brother and sister -were at play and saw the magic ball at the foot of a little -hill. Pleased with its brightness and beauty Natalia ran -to it, intending to pick it up and take it home, but, to her -surprise, as she drew near to it the ball rolled away; then, a -little way off, came to rest again. Again she ran to it and -almost had her hand on it when it escaped, exactly as a piece -of thistle-down does, just as she was about to grasp it. So -she followed it, always seeming to be on the point of catching -it but never doing so, and as she ran her brother Luis -followed, careful lest she should come to harm. The -strange part of it was that every time the ball stopped it -rested close to some berry bush or by the edge of a crystal-clear -spring, so that she, like all who were thus led away, -always found at the moment of resting something to eat or -to drink or to refresh herself. Nor, strangely enough, did -she tire, but because of the magic went skipping and running -and jumping just as long as she followed the ball. -Nor did any one under the spell of that magic note the -passing of time, for days were like hours and a night like the -shadow of a swiftly flying cloud.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At last, chasing the ball, Natalia and Luis came to a place -in the valley where the Rio Chico runs between great hills, -and it was dark and gloomy and swept by heavy gray clouds. -The land was strewn with mighty broken rocks and here -and there were patches of snow, and soon great snow flakes -appeared in the air. Then boy and girl were terror-struck, -for they knew with all the wandering and twisting -and turning they had lost their way. But the ball still -rolled on, though slower now, and the children followed. -But the air grew keener and colder and the sun weaker, so -that they were very glad indeed when they came to a black -rock where, at last, the ball stopped.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Natalia picked it up, and for a moment gazed at its -beauty, but for a moment only. For no sooner had she -gazed at it and opened her lips to speak than it vanished as -a soap bubble does, at which her grief was great. Luis -tried to cheer her and finding that her hands were icy cold -led her to the north side of the rock where it was warmer, -and there he found a niche like a lap between two great -arms, and in the moss-grown cranny Natalia coiled herself -up and was asleep in a minute. As for Luis, knowing that -as soon as his sister had rested they must set out about finding -a way home, he sat down intending to watch. But not -very long did he keep his eyes open, for he was weary and -sad at heart. He tried hard to keep awake, even holding -his eyelids open with his fingers, and he stared hard at a -sunlit hilltop across the valley, but even that seemed to make -him sleepy. Then, too, there were slowly nodding pine -trees and the whispering of leaves, coming in a faint murmur -from the mountainside. So, soon, Luis slept.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Natalia, being out of the blustering wind, was very comfortable -in the little niche between the great stone arms, -and she dreamed that she was at home. Her mother, she -thought, was combing her hair and singing as she did so. -So she forgot her hunger and weariness, and in her dream-land -knew nothing of the bare black rocks and snow-patched -hills. Instead, she seemed to be at home where the warm -firelight danced on the walls and lighted her father’s brown -face to a lively red as he mended his horse gear. She saw -her brother, too, with his jet-black hair and cherry-red lips. -But her mother, she thought, grew rough and careless and -pulled her hair, so that she gave a little cry of pain and -awoke. Then in a flash she knew where she was and was -chilled to the bone with the piercing wind that swept down -from the mountain top. Worse still, in front of her stood -the old witch of the hills, pointing, pointing, pointing with -knotty forefinger, and there were nails on her hands and -feet that looked like claws.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Natalia tried to rise, but could not, and her heart was -like stone when she found what had happened. It was this: -while she slept, the witch had stroked and combed her hair, -and meanwhile wrought magic, so that the girl’s hair was -grown into the rock so very close that she could not as much -as turn her head. All that she could do was to stretch forth -her arms, and when she saw Luis a little way off she called -to him most piteously. But good Luis made no move. Instead, -he stood with arms wide apart like one who feels a -wall in the dark, moving his hands this way and that. Then -Natalia wept, not understanding and little knowing that -the witch had bound Luis with a spell, so that there seemed -to be an invisible wall around the rock through which he -could not pass, try as he would. But he heard the witch -singing in her high and cracked voice, and this is what she -sang:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Valley all pebble-sown,</p> -<p class='line0'>Valley where wild winds moan!</p> -<p class='line0'>Come, mortals, come.</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -</div> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Valley so cool and white,</p> -<p class='line0'>Valley of winter night,</p> -<p class='line0'>Come, children, come.</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -</div> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Straight like a shaft to mark,</p> -<p class='line0'>Come they to cold and dark,</p> -<p class='line0'>Children of men!”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>Then she ceased and stood with her root-like finger up-raised, -and from near by came the voice of a great white -owl, which took up the song, saying:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Things of the dark and things without name,</p> -<p class='line0'>Save us from light and the torch’s red flame.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>Now all this was by starlight, but the moment the owl -had ceased, from over the hill came a glint of light as the -pale moon rose, and with a sound like a thunderclap the -witch melted into the great rock and the owl flapped away -heavily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Brother,” whispered the girl, “you heard what the owl -said?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, sister, I heard,” he answered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Brother, come to me. I am afraid,” said Natalia, and -commenced to cry a little.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sister,” he said, “I try but I cannot. There is something -through which I cannot pass. I can see but I cannot press -through.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Can you not climb over, dear Luis?” asked Natalia.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, Natalia. I have reached high as I can, but the wall -that I cannot see goes up and up.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Is there no way to get in on the other side of the rock, -dear, dear Luis? I am very cold and afraid, being here -alone.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sister, I have walked around. I have felt high and low. -But it is always the same. I cannot get through, I cannot -climb over, I cannot crawl under. But I shall stay here -with you, so fear not.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At that Natalia put her hands to her face and wept a -little, but very quietly, and it pained Luis to see the tears roll -down her cheeks and turn to little ice pearls as they fell. -After a while Natalia spoke again, but through sobs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Brother mine, you heard what the owl said?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, sister.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Does it mean nothing to you?” she asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Nothing,” he replied.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But listen,” said Natalia. “These were the words: ‘Save -us from light and the torch’s red flame.’ ”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I heard that, Natalia. What does it mean?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It means, brother, that the things in this horrible valley -fear fire. So go, brother. Leave me a while but find fire, -coming back with it swiftly. There will be sickening loneliness, -so haste, haste.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that, Luis was sad, for he was in no mood to -leave his sister in that plight. Still she urged him, saying: -“Speed, brother, speed.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Even then he hesitated, until with a great swoop there -passed over the rock a condor wheeling low, and it said as -it passed: “Fire will conquer frosted death.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You hear, brother,” said Natalia. “So speed and find -fire and return before night.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then Luis stayed no longer, but waved his sister a farewell -and set off down the valley, following the condor that -hovered in the air, now darting away and now returning. -So Luis knew that the great bird led him, and he ran, presently -finding the river and following it until he reached the -great vega where the waters met.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the meeting of the waters he came to a house, a poor -thing made of earth and stones snuggled in a warm fold of -the hills. No one was about there, but as the condor flew -high and, circling in the air, became a small speck, Luis -knew that it would be well to stay a while and see what -might befall. Pushing open the door he saw by the ashes -in the fireplace that someone lived there, for there were red -embers well covered to keep the fire alive. So seeing that -the owner of the house would return soon he made himself -free of the place, which was the way of that country, and -brought fresh water from the spring. Then he gathered -wood and piled it neatly by the fireside. Next he blew -upon the embers and added twigs and sticks until a bright -fire glowed, after which he took the broom of twigs and -swept the earth floor clean.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>How the man of the house came into the room Luis never -knew, but there he was, sitting by the fire on a stool. He -looked at things but said nothing to Luis, only nodding his -head. Then he brought bread and yerba and offered some -to Luis. After they had eaten the old man spoke, and this -is what he said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Wicked is the white witch, and there is but one way to -defeat her. What, lad, is the manner of her defeat? Tell -me that.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then Luis, remembering what the condor had said, repeated -the words: “ ‘Fire will conquer frosted death.’ ”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“True,” said the man slowly, nodding his head. “And -your sister is there. Now here comes our friend the condor, -who sees far and knows much.”</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Now with cold grows faint her breath,</p> -<p class='line0'>Fire will conquer frosted death.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>Having said that the great bird wheeled up sharply.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But no sooner was it out of sight than a turkey came running -and stood a moment, gobbling. To it the old man -gave a lighted brand, repeating the words the condor had -spoken.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Off sped the turkey with the blazing stick, running -through marsh and swamp in a straight line, and Luis and -the old man watched. Soon the bird came to a shallow -lagoon, yet made no halt. Straight through the water it -sped, and so swiftly that the spray dashed up on either side. -High the turkey held the stick, but not high enough, for the -splashing water quenched the fire, and seeing that, the bird -returned, dropping the blackened stick at the old man’s feet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Give me another, for the maiden is quivering cold,” said -the turkey. “This time I will run round the lake.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No. No,” answered the man. “You must know that -when the water spirit kisses the fire king, the fire king dies. -So, that you may remember, from now and for ever you -will carry on your feathers the marks of rippling water.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Down again swooped the condor and a little behind him -came a goose, flying heavily. As before, the condor cried:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Now with cold grows faint her breath,</p> -<p class='line0'>Fire will conquer frosted death.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>then flew away again toward the witch mountain.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To the goose the old man gave a blazing stick and at once -the brave bird set off, flying straight in the direction the -condor had taken. Over vega and over lagoon she went, -pausing only at a snowclad hilltop, because the stick had -burned close to her beak. So she dropped it in the snow to -get a better hold, and when she picked it up again there was -but a charred thing. Sad enough the goose returned to the -house, bearing the blackened stick, and begged to be given -another chance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No. No,” said the old man. “The silver snow queen’s -kiss is death to the fire king. That is something you must -remember. From now on and for ever you must carry -feathers of gray like the ashes. But here comes the condor -and we must hear his message.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sadly then the goose went away, her feathers ash gray, -and the condor wheeled low again, calling:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Fainter grows the maiden’s breath,</p> -<p class='line0'>Night must bring the frosted death,”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>and having said, like an arrow he shot off.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No sooner had he gone than the long-legged, long-billed -flamingo dropped to the ground.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Your beak is long,” said the old man, “but fly swiftly, -for the stick is short.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The flamingo took the burning stick by the end and made -straight for the mountain, racing with all possible speed. -As for Luis, he made up his mind to tarry no longer and set -off, running like a deer. But an ostrich, seeing him, spread -her wings like sails and ran by his side. On her back Luis -placed his hand, and with that help sped as fast as the flamingo. -In the air the flamingo went like an arrow, resting -not, although the blazing fire burned her neck and breast -until it became pink and red. But that she heeded not. -Straight up the valley and to the rock where Natalia was -bound went she, and into a heap of dried moss on the south -side of the rock she dropped the blazing stick. Up leaped -the dancing flames, and with a tremendous noise the rock -flew into a thousand pieces and the power of the witch was -gone for ever. As for Natalia, she was at once freed, and -with her gentle, cool hand stroked the breast of the flamingo -so that the burns were healed, but as a sign of its bravery -the bird has carried a crimson breast from that day to this. -As for Natalia and Luis, they lived for many, many -years in the valley, and about them birds of many kinds -played and lived and reared their young, and the magic ball -of the witch lived only in the memory of men.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo59.jpg' alt='' id='illo59' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>EL ENANO</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/E.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='E'/>VERYONE disliked El Enano who lived in the -forest, because he always lay hidden in dark places, -and when woodmen passed he jumped out on them -and beat them and took their dinners from them. He was -a squat creature, yellow of skin and snag-toothed and his -legs were crooked, his arms were crooked, and his face was -crooked. There were times when he went about on all -fours and then he looked like a great spider, for he had -scraggy whiskers that hung to the ground and looked like -legs. At other times he had the mood to make himself very -small like a little child, and then he was most horrible to -see, for his skin was wrinkled and his whiskers hung about -him like a ragged garment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Yet all of that the people might have forgiven and he -might have been put up with, were it not for some worse -tricks. What was most disliked was his trick of walking -softly about a house in the night-time while the people were -inside, suspecting nothing, perhaps singing and talking. Seeing -them thus, El Enano would hide in the shadows until -someone went for water to the spring, then out he would -leap, clinging fast to the hair of the boy or man and beating, -biting, scratching the while. Being released, the tortured -one would of course run to reach the house, but El Enano -would hop on one leg behind, terribly fast, and catch his victim -again just as a hand was almost laid on the door latch. -Nor could an alarm be raised, because El Enano cast a spell -of silence, so that, try as one would, neither word nor shout -would come.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then there was his other evil trick of hiding close to the -ground and reaching out a long and elastic arm to catch boy -or girl by the ankle. But that was not worse than his habit -of making a noise like hail or rain, hearing which the people -in the house would get up to close a window, and there, -looking at them from the dark but quite close to their faces, -would be the grinning Enano holding in his hands his whiskers -that looked like a frightening curtain, his eyes red and -shining like rubies. That was very unpleasant indeed, -especially when a person was alone in the house. Nor was -it much better when he left the window, for he would hop -and skip about the house yard for hours, screaming and -howling and throwing sticks and stones. So, wherever he -was there was chill horror.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One day, a good old woman who lived alone went with -her basket to gather berries. El Enano saw her and at once -made himself into a little creature no larger than a baby -and stretched himself on a bed of bright moss between two -trees leafless and ugly. He pretended to be asleep, though -he whimpered a little as a child does when it has a bad -dream.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The good old woman was short-sighted but her ears were -quick, and hearing the soft whimper she found the creature -and took it in her arms. To do that bent her sadly, for -Enano when small was the same weight as when his full -size.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, poor thing,” she said. “Someone has lost a baby. -Or perhaps some wild creature has carried the tender -thing from its home. So, lest it perish I will take -care of it, though to be sure, a heavier baby I never -held.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The dame had no children of her own and, though poor, -was both willing and glad to share what she had with any -needy creature. Gently she took it home and having put -dry sticks on the fire she made a bed of light twigs which she -covered with a mat of feathers. Then she bustled about, -getting bread and milk for supper for the little one, feeling -happy at heart because she had rescued the unhappy creature -from the dismal forest.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At first she was glad to see the appetite of the homeless -thing, for it soon finished the bread and milk and cried for -more.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bless me! It must be half starved,” she said. “It may -have my supper.” So she took the food she had set out -for herself and El Enano swallowed it as quickly as he had -swallowed the first bowl. Yet still he cried for more. Off -then to the neighbours she went, borrowing milk from this -one, bread from that, rice from another, until half the children -of the village had to go on short commons that night. -The creature devoured all that was brought and still yelled -for more and the noise it made was ear-splitting. But as -it ate and felt the warmth, it grew and grew.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Santa Maria!” said the dame. “What wonderful thing -is this? Already it is no longer a baby, but a grown child. -Almost it might be called ugly, but that, I suppose, is because -it was motherless and lost. It is all very sad.” Then, -because she had thought it ugly she did the more for it, -being sorry for her thoughts, though she could not help nor -hinder them. As for the creature itself, having eaten all in -the house, it gave a grunt or two, turned heavily on its side -and went to sleep, snoring terribly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Next morning matters were worse, for El Enano was -stretched out on the floor-before the fire, his full size, and -seeing the dame he called for food, making so great a noise -that the very windows shook and his cries were heard all -over the village. So to still him, and there being nothing -to eat in the house, the good old woman went out and told -her tale to the neighbours, asking their help and advice, and -to her house they all went flocking to look at the strange -creature. One man, a stout-hearted fellow, told El Enano -that it was high time for him to be going, hearing which, the -ugly thing shrieked with wicked laughter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, bring me food,” it said, looking at the man with -red eyes. “Bring me food, I say, and when I have eaten -enough I may leave you. But bring me no child’s food, but -rather food for six and twenty men. Bring an armadillo -roasted and a pig and a large goose and many eggs and the -milk of twenty cows. Nor be slow about it, for I must -amuse myself while I wait and it may well be that you will -not care for the manner of my amusement.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Indeed, there was small likelihood of any one there doing -that, for his amusement was in breaking things about the -house, the tables and benches, the pots and the ollas, and -when he had made sad havoc of the woman’s house he -started on the house next door, smashing doors and windows, -tearing up flowers by the roots, chasing the milk goats and -the chickens, and setting dogs to fight. Nor did he cease -in his mischief until the meal was set out for him, when he -leaped upon it and crammed it down his throat with fearful -haste, leaving neither bone nor crumb.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The people of the village stood watching, whispering one -to another behind their hands, how they were shocked at all -that sight, and when at last the meal was finished, the stout-hearted -man who had spoken before stepped forward. -“Now sir!” said he to El Enano, “seeing that you have eaten -enough and more than enough, you will keep your word, -going about your business and leaving this poor woman and -us in peace. Will you?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No. <span class='it'>No.</span> NO!” roared El Enano, each No being -louder than the one before it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But you promised,” said the man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>What the creature said when answering that made nearly -everyone there faint with horror. It said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What I promised was that I would leave when I had -eaten enough. I did not——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The bold man interrupted then, saying, “Well, you have -eaten enough.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ah yes, for one meal,” answered the cruel Enano. “But -I meant that I would leave when I have eaten enough for -always. There is to-morrow and to-morrow night. There -is the day after that and the next day and the next day. -There are to be weeks of eating and months of eating and -years of eating. You are stupid people if you think that I -shall ever have eaten enough. So I shall not leave. No. -<span class='it'>No.</span> NO!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Having said that, the creature laughed in great -glee and began to throw such things as he could reach -against the walls, and so, many good things were shattered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now for three days that kind of thing went on, at the end -of which time the men of the place were at their wits’ ends -to know what to do, for almost everything eatable in the -village had gone down the creature’s throat. Sad at heart, -seeing what had come to pass, the good old woman went out -and sat down to weep by the side of a quiet pool, for it -seemed to her to be a hard thing that what she had done in -kindness had ended thus, and that the house she had built -and loved and kept clean and sweet should be so sadly -wrecked and ruined. Her thoughts were broken by the -sound of a voice, and turning she saw a silver-gray fox sitting -on a rock and looking at her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is well enough to have a good cry,” he said, “but it is -better to be gay and have a good laugh.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ah! Good evening, Señor Zorro,” answered the dame, -drying her tears. “But who can be gay when a horrible -creature is eating everything? Who can be otherwise than -sad, seeing the trouble brought on friends?” The last she -added, being one of those who are always saddened by the -cheerlessness of others.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You need not tell me,” said the fox. “I know everything -that has passed,” and he put his head a little sideways -like a wise young dog and seemed to smile.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But what is there to do?” asked the dame. “I am in -serious case indeed. This alocado says that he will make -no stir until he has had enough to eat for all his life, and certainly -he makes no stir to go away.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The trouble is that you give him enough and not too -much,” said the fox.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Too much, you say? We have given him too much -already, seeing that we have given him all that we have,” -said the old dame a little angrily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, what you must do is to give him something that he -does not like. Then he will go away,” said the fox.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Easier said than done,” answered the old woman with -spirit. “Did we but give him something of which he liked -not the taste, then he would eat ten times more to take the -bad taste away. Señor Zorro, with all your cleverness, you -are but a poor adviser.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After that the fox thought a long while before saying -anything, then coming close to the old woman and looking -up into her face he said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Make your mind easy. He shall have enough to eat -this very night and all that you have to do is to see that your -neighbours do as I say, nor be full of doubt should I do -anything that seems to be contrary.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So the good old woman promised to warn her neighbours, -knowing well the wisdom of the fox, and together they went -to her house, where they found El Enano stretched out on -the floor, looking like a great pig, and every minute he gave -a great roar. The neighbours were both angry and afraid, -for the creature had been very destructive that day. Indeed, -he had taken delight in stripping the thatched roofs -and had desisted only when the men of the place had promised -to double the amount of his meal.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Not five minutes had the fox and the dame been in the -house when the men of the place came in with things—with -berries and armadillos, eggs and partridges, turkeys and -bread and much fish from the lake. At once they set about -cooking, while the women commenced to brew a great bowl -of knot-grass tea. Soon the food was cooked and El Enano -fell to as greedily as ever.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The fox looked at Enano for a while, then said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You have a fine appetite, my friend. What will there -be for the men and the women and the children and for me -to eat?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You may have what I leave, and eat it when I end,” said -El Enano.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let us hope then that our appetites will be light,” said -the fox.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A little later the fox began to act horribly, jumping about -the room and whining, and calling the people lazy and inhospitable.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Think you,” he said, “that this is the way to treat a visitor? -A pretty thing indeed to serve one and let the other -go hungry. Do I get nothing at all to eat? Quick. Bring -me potatoes and roast them, or it will be bad for all of you. -The mischief I do shall be ten times worse than any done -already.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Knowing that some plan was afoot the people ran out of -the house and soon came back with potatoes, and the fox -showed them how he wanted them roasted on the hearth. -So they were placed in the ashes and covered with hot coals -and when they were well done the fox told everyone to take -a potato, saying that El Enano, who was crunching the -bones of the animals he had eaten, would not like them. -But all the while the men were eating, the fox ran from one -to another whispering things, but quite loud enough for -Enano to hear. “Hush!” said he. “Say nothing. El -Enano must not know how good they are and when he asks -for some, tell him that they are all gone.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes. Yes,” said the people, keeping in with the plan. -“Do not let Enano know.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By this time El Enano was suspicious and looked from -one man to another. “Give me all the potatoes,” he said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They are all eaten except mine,” said the fox, “but you -may taste that.” So saying he thrust the roasted potato into -the hands of Enano and the creature crammed it down its -throat at once.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ha! It is good,” he roared. “Give me more. More. -MORE.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We have no more,” said the fox very loud, then, quite -softly to those who stood near him, he added, “Say nothing -about the potatoes on the hearth,” but loudly enough for El -Enano to hear, though quite well he knew that there were -none.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ah! I heard you,” roared El Enano. “There are potatoes -on the hearth. Give them to me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We must let him have them,” said the fox, raking the -red-hot coals to the front.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Out of the way,” cried El Enano, reaching over the fox -and scooping up a double handful of hot coals, believing -them to be potatoes. Red hot as they were he swallowed -them and in another moment was rolling on the floor, howling -with pain as the fire blazed in his stomach. Up he -leaped again and dashed out of the house to fling himself by -the side of the little river. The water was cool to his face -and he drank deep, but the water in his stomach turned to -steam, so that he swelled and swelled, and presently there -was a loud explosion that shook the very hills, and El Enano -burst into a thousand pieces.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo69.jpg' alt='' id='illo69' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>THE HERO TWINS</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/T.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='T'/>HERE was once a woman who had two sons and -they were twins, so much alike that the mother -herself could not tell one from the other. So -Hunapu always wore a crimson feather and Balanque a -blue one.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As children they spent their days in the open air, playing -in the forest, swimming in the lake, and wandering on the -plains, and so doing they came to know the animals and the -birds, finding the young ones and playing with them, so that -it was no uncommon sight to see them come home with a -panther following at their heels as a dog does. They knew -where to find the nests of birds of all kinds, fed the young -ones, and petted them, until with a call they could bring -from the trees clouds of glorious-coloured birds which would -perch on their hands and arms and shoulders. And of -course it came about in time that when animals and birds -gathered about the lads, there was no more fighting between -the wild creatures than there is between a puppy and a kitten -that have been raised together.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Growing up with the wild creatures, wrestling with them -and racing with them, the boys grew strong and fleet of foot. -They could scale a cliff to reach a condor’s nest or climb a -tree as swiftly as a monkey, and in the water they were as -much at home as on the land. Down into the clear depths -they would dive, down in the cool, green lake waters, to -bring up shells and bright stones, one boy striving with the -other, laughing merrily the while. And sitting on the shore -in the sunshine they would often look across the lake to the -faraway mountain, talking about the time when they would -adventure there to see what could be seen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Their father taught them to shoot straight with the arrow -and to use well the spear, and when they were masters of -these he made for them breastplates of silver and light helmets -that flashed in the sun. And as time went on they -wandered here and there, finding other boys of their own -age, and these, too, had helmets and breastplates of silver -made for them by their fathers and had learned the use of -the bow and spear, until at last there was a band of four -hundred of which Hunapu and Balanque were leaders. -Then there were great times with running and racing and -swimming and wrestling, and soon the Four Hundred had -agreed that when one of their number was in trouble not of -his own seeking, at the sound of the horn the rest would -come to his rescue. But not all the time was spent in play, -for the band of the Four Hundred were wise in all the arts, -playing the flute, working in metals, painting, woodcraft, -and other like activities.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One day Hunapu and Balanque were in the forest gathering -fruit, when there came to them an old man and wife, -weeping sadly. They were strangers to the place and, seeing -the two lads in their armour of silver, with bows in their -hands and swords by their sides and feathers of crimson and -of blue in their glittering helmets, they stood for a while -silent. But being asked, they told their tale of how they -had lived in the mountain on the other side of the lake -among a people who were in terror of their lives because of -three great and fearful giants who came now and then, taking -the cattle and the goats, destroying for mere mischief -the houses of the people, and sometimes killing the people -themselves. Nothing, they said, could withstand the -strength of the giants. Stone walls were as mere sticks to -them. They uprooted trees or turned the courses of rivers -by scooping away masses of earth with their hands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that, the twin brothers were greatly disturbed, -for as they had sat by the lake sometimes, talking of the land -far away, they had heard strange noises faintly come over -the waters, which they had set down as summer thunders. -With the tale of the old man and his wife, they began to -believe that things were more serious than they had supposed. -Stepping to a place clear of trees Hunapu put his -horn to his lips and blew long and loudly, three times. Soon -from all directions came lads running, each girt with his -sword, his spear in hand and his bow at his back, breast-plate -and helmet glittering in the bright sun. You can figure -for yourself that fine band of clean, straight-limbed fellows, -each with his drawn sword and silver helmet with -drooping plume. You can imagine how they looked standing -there with the cool, green forest behind them. And -there were not only the Four Hundred, but also their -friends of the forest, here a puma, there a panther or deer, -bright-coloured birds, glorious humming-birds and proud -llamas, for not a boy but had his wild creature for a pet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To the band of the Four Hundred the old man and his -wife told their tale, mentioning what they had not done -before, that their sons and daughters had been carried off -by two of the giants. At that there stepped from the ranks -a lad with flashing eyes who said that not a year should pass -over their heads before the giants were overcome, and a -great shout of joy went up. Then and there the lad who -had spoke cried:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let everyone step forward who will go to the land of the -evil three,” and no sooner were the words out of his lips than -the whole Four Hundred stepped forward. But, as Flashing -Eyes said, some must stay at home, for there were things -to be done, so he proposed that twenty alone should go. -Even then there was no way to decide which of them should -be of the twenty, for everyone wanted to go forward to the -adventure. At that Balanque offered to go alone to the -land, to see what would be the best plan to pursue, but again -there was trouble, for each of the Four Hundred wanted to -go with him. So at last it was decided to leave the matter -to be settled by chance. Each one was to call to his pet -wild creature, and the first two touched would go to the land -of the giants. Then a great calling went up, a naming of -names, a whistling, and a making of noises like the call of -animals, and from the leafy caves came the pets, running, -leaping, flying. Each lad there had hung his sword and -bow on a branch and stood with arms outstretched to welcome -his pet, and there was much laughter and good spirit. -Down from the sky came sweeping a hawk, straight as an -arrow, and it lit on the shoulder of Balanque. At the very -same moment a llama thrust its nose into the neck of Hunapu, -and that only a second before a fleet deer had leaped -to the side of Flashing Eyes. So all there knew that the -twin brothers were chosen to go into the land and there was -no more arguing about it. That night the band slept under -the brilliant stars and the next morning there went up a -great shout as at sunrise the brothers set off, every one of the -Four Hundred knocking his sword on his shield by way of -salute. From the top of a ridge the twins waved their band -a farewell, then they turned and a moment later were lost -to view, and the members of the band went each about his -own affairs, ready to come at a call.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All that day and the next they travelled, and on the morning -of the third day they came to a place where were great -black rocks, and hills all treeless and bare, and near the noon -hour they saw a great cave in the mountainside, the floor of -which was strewn with bones of animals, some of the bones -indeed being great things as big as a man, from a creature of -which the boys had never seen the like. These bones had -been cracked for the marrow in them and the teeth marks -told their tale of the size of the giant who had eaten -them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To a top of the mountain the boys climbed, and when -they had gained the summit, there at their feet was a great -hollow place and at the other end sat a monstrous fellow, -his hands on his knees, his body swaying to and fro. He -was rumbling and grumbling and peering here and there in -a queer way. The boys noticed that he did not turn his -head to look with a sweep of the eyes as they did, or as you -do, turning to see in a semi-circle or over a greater extent. -His way was different. He would turn his head in a certain -direction with his eyes closed, then open them and look. -From the place where his glance lit he could not turn. If -he wanted to look somewhere else, he had to close his eyes -and begin again, so that his looking was more like shooting -a bullet at a mark than anything, and if he missed, he -missed, and had to begin again. And of course he often -missed. Yet it was his way, and he must have been very -satisfied with it to judge by the song he sang, which was -this:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“My name is Cakix,</p> -<p class='line0'>Yukub—Cakix.</p> -<p class='line0'>My eyes are bright as silver,</p> -<p class='line0'>They gleam like precious stones.</p> -<p class='line0'>My name is Cakix,</p> -<p class='line0'>Yukub—Cakix.</p> -<p class='line0'>Cakix!</p> -<p class='line0'>Cakix!”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>Over and over again he sang that. Then, with a tremendous -roar, he shouted:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“I am Cakix,</p> -<p class='line0'>Yukub—Cakix,</p> -<p class='line0'>And all men fear me!”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>Then the twins, hearing that idle boast, stood on the hilltop -and shouted:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Catch us, Cakix, if you can. We come to make an end -of you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For a moment the giant sat still in sheer astonishment, his -eyes closed, his ear cupped in his hand to catch the direction -of the sound. The boys saw his great face turn in their direction, -and they skipped to the right and left so as to be out -of his sight, and well it was that they did so, for out over the -valley shot his arm, lengthening like elastic, and his great -fingers reached over the rock where the twins had stood, and -went feeling like five blind snakes. Finding nothing, the -hand picked up the rock, though it was as large as a house, -and back went the arm getting shorter, until the giant had -the rock under his nose. Then he shut his eyes, turned his -face down, opened his eyes again, and examined the rock. -Finding nothing he cast it away with a sudden jerk, much -as you jerk off some insect that drops on your hand unexpectedly. -Cakix sat awhile, then rose to his feet and strode -straight down the valley to where the boys had been, looking -straight ahead, of course. He went to a tree a little -way off, plucked some fruit which looked like wild cherries, -though each was as large as a pumpkin, and blundered off -without seeing the boys who crouched low and out of his -sight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As soon as the giant had gone the twins ran down into the -valley and there they saw, in great caves in the hills to the -right and left, hidden heaps of flashing, precious stones—diamonds, -emeralds, rubies, opals—dazzling in the sunshine. -In other holes were heaped gold dust and silver. -While looking they were startled to hear a new roaring, -this time from the hill to which Cakix had gone. Soon the -roar formed into words and they heard:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“I am Cabrakan,</p> -<p class='line0'>Cabrakan who shakes the earth,</p> -<p class='line0'>Cabrakan who shakes the sky.</p> -<p class='line0'>I am Cabrakan,</p> -<p class='line0'>Master of men.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>It was another giant, but him they did not see. Scrambling -out of the valley they reached the hilltop to see Cakix -coming back to his valley. He stopped at the tree where he -had stopped before and took some more fruit, then strode -down the hill, marking time as he walked with his:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“I am Ca-kix</p> -<p class='line0'>Yu-kub—Ca-kix</p> -<p class='line0'>All men fear me.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>He sat down in his old seat, his hands again on his knees, -his body swaying. He seemed uncomfortable and restless, -much as if he expected danger, getting to his feet every now -and then, peering about, going to his tree to eat fruit and -returning again to his seat. In fact, about every hour he -went to his fruit tree.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Seeing that, the lads had an idea, and running to the fruit -tree, climbed into it, hiding themselves in the thick branches, -but no sooner were they safely there than they heard the -monster coming.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In a very short while they felt the tree shake with the -giant’s heavy tread, for he was on his way to take another -meal. Then in less time than it takes to count six he was at -the tree, his great blue face hiding the scenery. Quick as -lightning, Hunapu fitted an arrow to his bow, drew the -string to his bow, and let fly. The shaft struck the ugly fellow -in the chin, but so tough was his skin that the barb only -pierced to his jaw. Still, the pain of it was enough to send -him away roaring. Back he went to his valley and threw -himself down, groaning and weeping. There was no loud -song from him now.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The boys descended from their tree and marched down to -where Cakix lay, taking good care to keep out of the way of -his great kicking feet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who are you?” asked the giant when he saw them. -“And what do you want here?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We are doctors,” they answered. “Hearing your roar -of pain, we came to help. It is your teeth that need attention. -Let us take out your bad teeth and you will be at -ease.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But my teeth are my strength,” said the giant. “Men -do not know it,” he added with the lack of suspicion of all -giants.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“True,” answered the twins. “We will pull out the old -teeth and put new ones in their place.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The giant opened his mouth and to work they went with -hammers and bars of iron, and in a short time had his teeth -all out. True to their promise they put new teeth in place -of the old, but the new teeth they fitted were made of grains -of corn, and as soon as Cakix tried to eat with them he found -out his error. So in a short while he died from starvation, -and the earth was rid of one of the monsters.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was great joy among the band of Four Hundred -when the hero brothers returned and told their story, for -they were glad of the good fortune of the twins and full of -rejoicing that the world had one monster the less in it. And -after a week of resting, there came a day when the whole -band, bright in their polished armour and gay with feathers -and flowers, set off for the Stone Mountain to bring back -the treasures and to slay the remaining giants. But the tale -is so long and so interesting, that it must be left for another -chapter.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo79.jpg' alt='' id='illo79' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>THE FOUR HUNDRED</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/S.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='S'/>INGING and waving banners, the four hundred -youths with the twin brothers at their head, all of -them slim and well formed, brown of skin and -straight of limb, marched forth to the land of the giants, -their eyes bent on the far mountains all wrapped in a blue, -floating mist. No faint hearts were there, nor among them -were bullies or cowards. Not one there but could run, -leap, shoot straight, and look his friend in the eye. From -shields of silver the sunlight flashed, spearheads were like -points of hard light and each helmet was plumed. Bows -were slung across shoulders and swords were at sides, and -sandalled feet marched in step. No food they bore nor were -they otherwise burdened, for well each knew the way of the -forest and the trick of lake and stream; well each knew the -fruit-bearing trees and the bushes that were berry-hung, -and at night their roof was the star-sprinkled sky.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Straight as an arrow was their course to the west, to the -land of vast rocks, and gullies like axe-clefts in the earth. -Straight to the west, not turning for swift-flowing stream -nor yellow marsh; plunging through forest, climbing mountain, -scaling cliff. Straight to the west to the place where -the twin brothers had been before, until they came to the -valley of Cakix and saw his bones already white, picked by -carrion birds. There, too, they saw the caves where were -heaps of glittering diamonds, rubies like fire, emeralds cool -green like the caves of the sea. Gold, too, and silver were -there, but no heed gave they to all that, counting such things -but as toys for children, when great things had to be done.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Scouting far and wide to hilltop and rocky ridge, going -by twos in vast circles until they met again, they swept the -land, seeing sign of neither Cabrakan nor of the giant Zipacna, -and when the band met again all were prepared to -fare farther in their quest. None was for returning, “for,” -said they, “there is an evil thing to put out of the land and -the swifter the foul task is done the better.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The second day of their quest they came to a great forest -and there they were set upon by great monkeys that came -in hundreds and tens of hundreds, leaping at them and snarling, -baring teeth and fiercely chattering. For a while it -looked of ill omen, but knowing that together they could -meet much the Four Hundred formed a square, so facing -north and east and south and west, a line of lads kneeling -with pointing spears, others behind them with spears over -the shoulders of those that knelt. In vain the apes dashed -at them, for not a spear was lowered nor did heart grow -faint. But the air throbbed with the cries of the hairy -things and they came in ever-increasing numbers, striving -to break by sheer weight the spear-bristling square. All -that day they came, hurling themselves against the square -until the dead things lay in masses, those that were wounded -screaming in pain and anger as they turned again to the -forest, and when the dropping sun touched the hills and the -green became black, the evil things, finding their work in -vain, gave up the fight and fled snarling.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So the Four Hundred all unharmed, weary, though light -of heart because of the great fellowship that was shown to -be among them, shouldered their spears, re-slung their bows -and marched on, until coming to a noisy stream they washed -themselves and their weapons. Then in the white moonlight -they slept, each with his sword at hand, while some -watched, on guard for that which might threaten.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the sky was rose-tinted again they went on their -way, making for a narrow pass like a sword-slash in the -mountains, and by noon they had reached the stony cut. -High and bare were the white rocks on either side and -gloomy was the pass, nor of living thing was there sign save -a condor wheeling high. But from the rocks came strange -noises, whistlings and screamings, then of a sudden, like a -thunder clap, a mighty roar as from many voices, and the -noise of it echoed and re-echoed from rock to rock so that -the din was deafening, and when they spoke one to another, -mouth went to ear and hands were cupped. Then, when -they were well within the pass, marching over a floor so -covered with sharp-pointed rocks and great round boulders -that they had to slacken their pace, there came from above -a great rock which fell ahead of their path so as to block -the way, except for a narrow passage on either side. Looking -up, they saw, crowded on the tops of the high cliffs -on every hand, snag-toothed, evil-eyed fellows who crawled -about the rocks as though they had been lizards, so sure of -foot were they. They knew then that they were in the land -of the wild men of the mountain, the crag men, fellows -strong and stark, full of hate and viciousness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Of a sudden, from one of the creatures who stood far up -in the cleft of a rock, one whose hair and beard were long -and white and tangled, came a hoarse cry, and lifting high -above his head a rock greater than ten armadillos he cast it -downward with great force. Ill would it have been for any -youth struck by it, but so badly and swiftly was it thrown -that it passed over the heads of all, struck the wall on the -farther side, and burst into a hundred pieces. So the youth -with the bright eyes called on his fellows to hold their -shields above their heads, edge to edge and overlapping in -such wise as to form a roof, which they did. Well it was -thus, for stones rattled down like hail, some so great that -those on whom they fell were almost borne to earth with -the sheer weight, for the men of the crags were many and -strong. Yet the weight being shared by reason of the -jointed shields, all went well, for each youth’s care was for -his fellow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In one place the pass ran narrow, and there one of the -crag men, a fellow of great animal strength and swiftness, -suddenly leaped down and bore one of the twin brothers to -earth by the violence of his flight through the air, for the -men of the crags leaped from rock to rock like wildcats. It -was Balanque who was thus struck down, but he was on his -feet in an instant, drew his sword hastily, and as the crag -man rushed at him with jaws all foam-flecked and horrible -he passed his blade through the crag man’s chest. But the -fellow was like a wild boar, pressing on regardless of the -hurt, so that he ran up onto the hilt, caught the youth by the -waist, and flung him over his shoulder. In a moment more -he would have been on his way up the face of the cliff. As -it was, seeing what had come to pass, the crag men set up a -great yelling and screaming, thinking that victory already -lay with their man. But Bright Eyes was not idle. He fitted -an arrow to his bow and let fly, the shaft passing through -the crag man’s neck, so that he stood, as it were, spitted, and -let Balanque fall. Pierced though he was with both arrow -and sword, yet there was life in him and he fled to the rock -face and clambered up, leaving a trail of red wherever he -passed, and was seen no more by any of the band.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No pause all this while was there in the shower of stones, -but, shields well locked, the band pressed on, foot by foot, -each youth stern to win and proud of his companion, each -youth keeping the eye of hope on the thin, bright strip of -blue at the end of the pass where the mountains would fall -away. And there they came at last, toil-worn but heart-strong, -to the plain where the crag men dared not follow, -some of them almost weeping for joy because shoulder to -shoulder they had again fought their way through a great -danger and an evil place, where, had but one failed, all -might have been lost.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There were four hundred and two happy youths that -night, though the place where they slept was bare of grass -and trees, and in the morning they were well rested and -strong, for as they had lived well and cleanly and none having -a darkened window in his breast, their sinews were as -steel, and every day was a new life in which to enter with -eyes bright and shining.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sun had not far risen; indeed, there seemed but a -hand’s breadth between the lower edge of it and the world’s -edge, when a great wonder appeared before their eyes. It -was as if the sun were suddenly blotted out, for what they -had taken to be a low, faintly rising hill in the east had -risen up, stood for a moment like a vast cloud, then passed -swiftly to the south. At the same time there came a roar -like thunder from the cloudlike form, which came near to -deafening them. And the roar formed into words:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“I am Zipacna whom men cannot slay,</p> -<p class='line0'>There’s naught that I fear save the watery way.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>That rolled rumblingly as thunderings between earth and -sky, now loud, now softer, as Zipacna strode from valley to -valley. A little later he came in sight again, but far to the -north of where they were, then vanished from their sight -into the cleft of the hills where they had battled with the -crag men.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now fearful as was the sight of the giant, yet no fear was -in any heart, so, having made a meal and rested for a season, -without more to-do they set off for the place from which the -giant had arisen. It was long before they got there, -but at last they stood on the edge of a long and narrow -cañon at the end of which was a mighty pile of bones, not -alone of animals but also of men, and there were human -skulls there and shells of sea-crabs, and in and among all -these crawled venomous serpents. But most of all were -there sea-crab shells.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While they gazed at this sorrowful sight, there came to -them a bent old woman, sad of face and lined and wrinkled, -and her talk was more like croaking than human speech. -Secret and watchful was she in her manner. To the twin -brothers and Bright Eyes, who stood a little apart from the -rest of the band, she spoke, asking them:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What do ye here, my fine fellows? And why come ye -to this place of evil and misery?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of the three answered boldly that they came to slay -the giant Zipacna, telling her that he was a thing of evil -and that evil things must be laid low if the world is to be -fair.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then,” said she, “ye are doubtless prepared to die, for -in times past many have thought to slay Zipacna, but themselves -have been led into feasting and into pleasure and soft -living, and so the memory of the good that was intended, -passed and became less than a dream.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Her words they found strange, but she went on to tell -them of a land over the hill where all was fair and where -none had to work and where the sun shone. There seemed -but little meaning in her words.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But they made answer, saying: “We have but one desire, -which is to slay Zipacna for the evil that he has done and -must do. As for your land of fine things, if to live there -would make us soft and idle, then must our eyes be closed -to it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that, the old woman seemed pleased and the shadow -of a smile touched her face. But her manner changed -swiftly it seemed, for she shot a question at them which was -this: “You passed the caves of Cakix whose bones now -are white? Give me then of the precious stones that lay in -the caves there,” and so saying, stretched forth her skinny -arm, her hand hollowed to receive gifts.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It was not for such toys that we came. We saw but -touched not the precious stones, nor the gold, nor anything -that was there. Indeed, to have done so would but have -hampered us in the doing of that which we set out to do.” -Thus Hunapu made reply and the others nodded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And how did ye escape the apes of the forest?” she asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We stood side by side and met danger.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And the men of the crags, how fared ye with them?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Bright Eyes answered quietly: “Each covered himself -and his neighbour as well as he could and so we came out -with whole skins.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A silence fell then, the three saying nothing because of -the woman’s great age, though her words and questions -seemed to lack meaning. What she said further was a -greater riddle still. “It was well done,” she told them, and -nodded slowly. “Now a greater task lies before. It is one -in which each of your band must meet danger separately -and to his peril, if eyes are not lit and feet swift. More -than that I cannot tell. But go onward until the sea is -reached and there is a lake of water. Whoso touches that -water is turned to stone, so take heed. But well indeed will -it be if Zipacna is led there. Have ye not heard him sing:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>I am Zipacna whom men cannot slay.</p> -<p class='line0'>There’s naught that I fear save the watery way?</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>Heard ye not that at sunrise?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then she said no more but turned away. Now as she -took a step her staff fell from her unsteady hands and Bright -Eyes picked it up and gave it to her. That seemed to open -her lips again, for she told them:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hearken, one and all. Many are there like swine, who -live but to eat, and Zipacna is of that sort. Watch well by -the sea shore to the end that ye see the things that may lead -to his destruction.” There was no more. She passed down -the hill and disappeared behind a thorn-bush and at the -moment that she vanished from their sight a white puma -leaped out from the other side, by which they saw that she -knew of white witcheries.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The band lost no time in turning their steps seaward, and -although the day was hot and the place inviting, would not -rest in a valley through which they passed, a place rich in -fruits and soft with silk grass. That evening they came to -the sea, and at the foot of a cliff saw a great lake of water so -clear and blue that their eyes could follow, dropping from -rock ledge to rock ledge, down the slope of the side until -they saw the stones and the sand on the bottom. But there -were no swaying water-weeds, nor was there living thing. -Another thing they saw which brought the words of the -old woman to their minds, for thrown aside on the beach -were hundreds and thousands of sea-crab shells, from which -they knew that it was the sea-crab that Zipacna loved to -eat above all things.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now they also saw that by some chance a great tree had -fallen, and one end of it rested in the water of the lake, and -that end had turned to stone. Another thing they saw, for -on the farther side of the lake was a bed of blue-black clay -and the colour of it was the colour of the shell of a sea-crab. -So after some thought and some talk many of the lads went -deftly to work fashioning of the clay a great sea-crab, so -great that the like was never seen. Others dragged to the lake -straight tree-trunks which they laid side by side with the -tree already there, and the end of the stick was turned to -stone as soon as it touched the water, the rest of the tree -changing more slowly. All that night they wrought, making -the great crab and setting it on the sloping tree-trunks, -so that when morning broke, that which they had set out to -do was finished, and while it was yet gray dawn they set off -for the place where Zipacna dwelt.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But not all the band went. Here a lad was left, a little -way off another, then another and another, each hiding -behind rock or tussock or thorn-bush or tree. So hid, one -by one, fifty, a hundred, two hundred, until at last there -were left Balanque, Hunapu, and Bright Eyes. Then at -the foot of a hill Bright Eyes sat down and Hunapu -crouched on the shoulder of another hill that stood alone. -So, the band being all hidden, it fell out that Balanque alone -went to the place where they had met the old woman. He -fell to making a great outcry, calling on Zipacna to come -forth and rattling his sword on his shield merrily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh! Coward!” he called. “Come forth and be slain -as was your brother Cakix, whose bones are now scattered -and white.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In a voice of thunder Zipacna cried:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“I am Zipacna whom men cannot slay.</p> -<p class='line0'>There’s naught that I fear but the watery way.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>Over and over he chanted that, now roaring, now grumbling -as grunts a swine when it would rest. But always Balanque -taunted him, calling him a coward giant, telling him -that his days were short, and reminding him of the fate of -Cakix.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At last the slow blood of the giant was on fire and he -rose on his elbow to look. For a time he saw nothing, -being slow of sight and moreover looking too high, little -dreaming that his noisy champion was so small. When he -saw Balanque at last, his hand shot out, but Balanque was -swift, and like the wind fled at top speed to where his -brother Hunapu lay. Down dropped Balanque and up -sprang Hunapu, clearing the ground like a deer, with Zipacna -in full chase, the giant little dreaming that he was -following a new man. But Hunapu, fresh and rested, did -as his brother had done and sped to the foot of the hill -where Bright Eyes lay. Then like an arrow went Bright -Eyes to the thorn-bush where Huno was, and Huno in his -turn darted to the tree where Chimal rested. So also -Chimal raced, and each of the band did the same when his -turn came, the giant Zipacna following, no more knowing -one lad from the other than one ant can be told from its -fellow. And in the rear those who had dropped to hide -gathered again, so that three companions became five, five -became ten, and ten became fifty, while over hill and valley -and marsh, through thorn-thicket and wooded hill, Zipacna -rushed, each lad leading him on his dance, each companion -rising from his resting-place, ready and swift. And so each -of that band met danger alone to the end that all might be -safe.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At last the merry chase led Zipacna to the cliff, and there -below him he saw what he took to be a mighty crab on the -tree-trunks, ready to drop into the water of the lake, and -at the sight of it his mouth watered and his eyes grew large. -A touch of his foot sent the crab sliding into the water, and -to save it Zipacna thrust out his hand. But he bent never -to straighten again. Solid and firm was he fixed, the crab a -crab of stone, his hand a hand of stone. Solid and firm was -he fixed, a crouching giant in a crystal lake, where he stands -to this day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As for the band of Four Hundred, many other valiant -deeds did they in the land, but through all, never was the -thread of their fellowship broken or tangled, and if evil -threatened one, then no rest of stay had the others until all -was well again.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo92.jpg' alt='' id='illo92' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>THE KILLING OF CABRAKAN</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/C.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='C'/>ABRAKAN the giant was slain by the twin brothers -and the manner of his killing was thus:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After the death of Cakix and the turning to -stone of Zipacna, Cabrakan kept close to the stony land, but -one day venturing over the mountains where lived the crag -men, he came upon a herd of goats that had wandered out -of the way, and gathering them into a corral formed of his -legs as he sat upon the ground, he swallowed them one by -one, as a child swallows berries. The goatherd saw him -from the shelter of a tree, where he hid himself when he -first set eyes on Cabrakan. On the next day the giant came -again to the same place where he had fared so well, and -seeing a house a little way off went there and made a meal -of the cattle, leaving the man of the house in sorry case. -The third day he ventured farther, sitting down at noon by -the side of a village and picking up and eating such living -creatures as he chanced to see, much as an ant-eater picks -up ants. Nor was there aught to hinder him, for the people -fled to the woods when they heard the earth tremble under -his tread. So, soon, the tale of how Cabrakan was robbing -men came to the ears of the twin brothers, and they swore -to stay his high hand forevermore.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now Cabrakan knew of the manner in which Cakix had -been laid low and knew also how Zipacna had met his end, -so by neither of these ways was it possible to destroy him. -He had also pondered in his slow way, laying half-plans to -slay the twin brothers did he ever lay hands on them. Cabrakan -was the mightiest of giants and vain of his strength, -and in that vanity lay his weakness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One day there came a mighty storm and a turmoil of wind -and water, of thunder and lightning, so that the trees of the -forest were laid low and the rocks uprooted, while the -thunderings of the sea-waves shook the very barancas. Black -were the heavens and clouds flew fast and low, so that Cabrakan -in his long life had seen nothing like it, and his heart -failed him. Nor did he rise all that day from the shelter -of the mountain where he had cast himself on the ground, -until the black had changed to gray and the wind was -abated. But when the clouds had passed and the sky was -again moonlit, he saw on a hilltop a little way off the twin -brothers, Hunapu and Balanque. While the storm had -raged they were sheltered in a cave, and from it they had -seen Cabrakan as he ran before the storm to seek the shelter -of the mountain. To their ears, when there were wind -lulls, came the sound of mighty whimpering and wailing -from the giant, by which they knew that his heart was far -from stout.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Seeing the twin brothers, Cabrakan rose to his feet and -asked them what they did there, and would have said more -had he not suddenly found his mind a blank. So he fell -back on his chant, though there was a quaver in his voice -because of the fear in him that had not yet died, the fear of -the storm:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“I am Cabrakan,</p> -<p class='line0'>Cabrakan who shakes the earth,</p> -<p class='line0'>Cabrakan who shakes the sky,</p> -<p class='line0'>I am Cabrakan,</p> -<p class='line0'>Master of men!”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>When he had made an end of his song Hunapu spoke and -said, boldly enough: “It is well, Cabrakan. Strong thou -art, but so also are we strong. Have you not seen how with -our breaths we laid low the trees of the forest? Saw ye not -how we blew and the rocks were uprooted? How, also, -the skies were darkened? But that was a small matter, for -there are things to be done, and in this upsetting of the -world my brother alone worked. Now must two of us -work, so prepare yourself well, O Cabrakan, lest a giant be -blown over the edge of the world where is neither resting-place -nor foothold. A trifling matter indeed was the storm.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that, a deep misgiving was in the heart of Cabrakan. -He rubbed his eyes and looked with astonishment at -the twin brothers, so slight of build, so ruddy and fair, and -seeing them and remembering the storm he could find no -words.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then said Balanque, as had been before agreed between -the brothers, and speaking as if in deep thought: “Perhaps -it might be better if Cabrakan joined us. It is true that he, -the earth-shaker, is after all but weak, but if he be taught to -eat of cooked flesh in the manner of men, it may be that he -too may grow strong as we are.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that, the giant pricked up his ears, thinking, in -the dull manner of giants, that if he did but play a little to -mislead the twin brothers he might persuade them to let him -eat of cooked meats, when, his strength becoming greater, -he might rid the earth of two who had raised so mighty and -fearful a storm. Perchance then, thought he, I shall rule -the land alone. So he said, cunningly: “Let me try my -strength against yours awhile, and if I be found weak, then -cook me the food that men eat, so that I may become strong -and thus your useful slave.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At that the twin brothers pretended to consult a little, -Hunapu acting as if he wished to raise another whirlwind, -Balanque as if soothing him, while Cabrakan stood watching -them, a heavy fear in his bones.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let Cabrakan,” said Hunapu presently, “overturn and -pluck out the entrails of this mountain to prove himself.” -Having so said, he turned aside, but after a moment added, -as if his mind had changed on the matter: “Yet how does it -matter? We need no Cabrakan to aid us. Perhaps it were -better that I cast it over with a breath, even though Cabrakan -be blown like a leaf over the edge of the world.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now though the world in which the giant lived was -rocky and bare, yet it looked fair to him and he had no -mind to be cast into nothingness. So he made his face -fierce and told Hunapu that he was willing to prove his -strength. Hunapu, still playing a part, looked scornfully -at the giant as he said: “It is after all but a child’s matter, -but if the mountain be overturned, then shall the food of -men be yours and your body made strong and your wits -sharpened.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cabrakan lost no more time but raised his shoulders and -put forth his arms as one about to wrestle. “Let none -meddle with me,” he said, “and before the day breaks I shall -pluck out the mountain by its roots.” So, a mountain of -flesh against the moonlit sky, he strode in five great strides -to the side of the mountain and flung his arms about it. -First he made a shift to pluck it straight from the earth, his -feet set wide apart, his muscles strained and knotted. Again -he strove to overturn it, now with shoulder fast-braced -against the sheer rock, his legs like towers. That failing, -he strove furiously, now battering like a madman, now pressing -and stamping, so that there was a trembling all about -like an earthquake. So great was his strength that the side -of the mountain broke open and a clear stream gushed forth, -the water twisting and turning along the plain like a silver -snake. All that night and morning he wrestled with the -mountain and as the day wore on he grew tired and weary, -but there was no result of his labours except the tumbling -stream and two great holes in the black living rock at the -foot of the mountain where his feet had pushed. But where -his arms had encircled, the mountain was worn smooth and -bare, the very rock was polished and shone in the sunlight. -Grunting and groaning Cabrakan toiled, until at length, -seeing that he had grown too weak for mischief, Hunapu -called on him to rest awhile.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hold thee a little,” he said. “This eating of the goats -and the cattle of men will make no living thing strong. A -heart thou lackest. Like an arrowless quiver or a stringless -bow art thou. In the food of men alone is strength, O -Cabrakan, so that must we eat, and the meal being done -things of worth may be seen.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Well pleased to hear that, the weary giant cast himself -down on the ground and rubbed his palms one against another -to ease them, but as he lay there resting many a look -he gave at the motionless mountain, the glistening head -of which he had tried in vain to tear from the sky. Also -most heartily he wished that the thing was at an end, or -that the twin brothers had stayed away from that place.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Balanque kindled a fire and Hunapu shot an eagle and -slowly they roasted the bird, the smell of it pleasing the -giant vastly, for he had never tasted cooked meat, nor indeed -knew any method of preparing it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now in that land there grows a sort of mountain-laurel -bearing a red berry within a pod, and its power is such that -whoso eats of it will waste away as the morning mist passes -before the warming sun. Many of these berries Hunapu -took and placed in the flesh of the roasted eagle, for certain -it was that neither Balanque nor his brother could leave -that place with the giant unslain. So the roasted eagle with -the berries in it they gave to Cabrakan, who swallowed it -at a single gulp.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At first he felt strong as ten giants and leaped to his -feet, minded to pluck the mountain from the earth and cast -it on the twin brothers. Fiercely he gripped, so fiercely -that the top of the mountain opened and steam came forth -and a black smoke rose in the air, spreading in the form of -a vast tree; so vast it was, that it formed a cloud that veiled -the sun so that the light sickened for a time and a pale -yellow touched all things. From the top of the mountain -there gushed forth hot lava that glowed as it spread; that -came faster soon, in roaring masses. But Cabrakan rapidly -waxed weak with the poison of the berries, so weak that he -clung for support to the mountain he would have plucked -forth. And as his strength waned, the malice within him -grew, and dark were the looks, evil the eye he cast on the -twin brothers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But his day was done and his course was run. Soon his -eyes grew dim and in very weariness his head fell against -the brow of the mountain. Fast and deep for a while came -his breath, his chest heaving like a sullen sea when the storm -has died. Then his strength fell away altogether and he -sank to the earth and the lava covered him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So came to an end Cabrakan, the earth-shaker and master -of men, and thus did the twin brothers finish that which -they had set out to do.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo99.jpg' alt='' id='illo99' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>THE TALE OF THE GENTLE FOLK</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/L.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='L'/>ET me see. This story begins at the time I climbed -down the Andes on the east side and came upon a -house by a lake. There were two children living -there, one named Juan, the other, his sister, named Juanita, -and the boy was seven years old and the girl nine. They -had never seen a school, and the nearest house was more than -fifty miles away. Still they had books, knew how to read, -and I do not think that they ever found the day long. For -one thing the lake was not at all deep, and a little bit off -from the shore of it was a small island. That was a kind -of playground for them, and often they paddled their boat -to it in the early morning and stayed there all day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There were other things highly interesting. On the -second day that I was there, I saw their tame ostrich, a -great gray bird that they had had for two years, and now -and then Juan would ride it, Delicia, which was the name -of the ostrich, spreading his wings like sails, and running -out in a wide zigzag circle on the pampa, caring no more -for the light weight on his back than a chicken would care -for a fly. Somehow, the birds of that place were no more -afraid of the children than the cat is afraid of you, and they -knew places where they could see the flamingo with its -scarlet cloak, the cowbird all glossy violet, the lapwings -making a drumming music, gray and white scissortail with -feathers a foot long, and red oven-birds. But their great -pet was the huanaco, tall and proud-looking, all yellow and -white, like a camel without a hump, about the size of a -donkey. They called him Campeón, and he had been on -the place as long as the children could remember. Their -father, who owned many sheep, had found him when he was -no larger than a fox, brought him to the house, and he had -become as tame as a pet lamb. Both Juan and Juanita -would roll over on him as he lay in the sun, burying their -faces in his gold-coloured fur, hugging his long neck, -wrestling with him until he got up and walked away to -find a quieter place. They would use him as a horse, harnessing -him to a little wagon, and all would go well sometimes, -but sometimes not so well, for Campeón taking it -into his head to run, the wagon would upset, the children -roll out on the soft grass, and in a moment Campeón would -free himself from the harness, going in great leaps to find -a little hill where he would perch himself on the crest and -stand like a sentinel.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now one day the man who was my travelling companion -was out with his rifle, and coming upon old Campeón -standing on a high rock, took him for a strange and wild -animal, and, like many thoughtless men with a gun, followed -his impulse and shot. Campeón was badly wounded, -and doubtless astonished to receive such treatment from the -hands of a man. Anyway he limped on three legs to the -house. Juan and Juanita grieved sadly, their parents no -less, and all was done for Campeón that could be done. -As for my friend, seeing what had happened, he was the -most sorrowful of us all. For a time it seemed as though -Campeón would get better, but one day he was plainly -worse. All that day he rested on the sheltered side of the -house, refusing food and water, his finely shaped head -proudly upright, his eyes turned to the south, and the next -morning there was no sign of him. From the hill on which -he had stood we could see for miles and miles, and Juanita -and I went there, taking a telescope, and we searched the -country far and wide. In the afternoon we saddled horses -and rode many, many miles until we came to a belt of sandy -soil that ran east and west, and there we saw the trail of -our Campeón going straight south. So we turned home -sadly enough, for we knew that we would see the gentle -beast no more.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>And this is why: If you have read the “Arabian Nights,” -you will remember, in the story of Sindbad the Sailor, that -it is told that he discovered a wonderful valley in which -were the bones of hundreds and thousands of elephants. -Whether there is any truth or not in that, I do not know, but -I do know that in south Patagonia there is a vast valley -called the Valley of the Gallegos and there the huanacos go -to lay down their bones when they feel the coming of death. -And beautiful Campeón, though he had never seen that -valley, somehow felt that he must find it, being so wounded -and sick, and while we slept that moonlight night, had left -us. Both Juan and Juanita knew well enough that they -would never see Campeón dead, for they had heard the -story of the huanaco valley as often as you have the story -of Cinderella. So had I heard it, and that night when we -fell to talking about Campeón, a gaucho who looked after -the horses told us the story again, and this is what he said:</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>Long, long ago, when there were giants and before there -were horses in this land, there lived a gentle people who did -not know sickness or pain or anger. They moved about -among the animals and the birds as we move about among -the flowers in the garden, and men were much kinder and -the maidens more graceful and beautiful than any on the -earth to-day. The colours of the birds were brighter and -the scent of the flowers sweeter than now; the sun was never -too hot nor the wind too cold. What was more wonderful, -the Gentle People had a strange power by means of which -they could change flowers into living things which turned -to bright-coloured birds.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now and then there would be great gatherings, when all -the Gentle People would come together before their prince -who sat on a throne decked with precious stones. And the -people who loved him for his wisdom as well as for his -goodness brought to him at such times gold and silver and -diamonds and rubies and glittering precious stones, and -these he would give to the young people to play with, for -in those days people loved things for their beauty alone. -The birds and animals too would join in the gathering, and -the air would be full of song and colour and the scent of -woods and flowers. On that day each person there would -have his or her wish granted, whatever it was. To be -sure, where was so much that was good, it seemed hard to -wish for anything at all.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was one thing only that was forbidden to the Gentle -People, which was to go north until they saw no more the -stars of the Southern Cross in the sky, for after many days’ -journey, they were told, there was a great dark forest on -the other side of which were fierce men who did evil. But -one day one of the Gentle People saw a strange bird, more -beautiful than anything ever seen, a bird whose breast -shone green and blue and gold, with a tail of long feathers -white as ivory. Capa it was who saw the bird, and it -seemed strange to him that seeing him the bird flew away. -Never before had he seen a bird that he could not touch and -hold, and the more the bird avoided him the more eager -was he to take it to the prince. So he followed it as it -went from place to place, always thinking that at last the -strange bird would allow him to draw near. That it feared -him he never knew, for his people knew no fear, neither did -the animals nor birds that lived among them. At last the -bird led him to the edge of the forest, and when he looked -into the sky that night he saw new stars there, at which he -wondered. Into the forest he went, always following the -bird, and so tall and thick were the trees that the sun did -not shine and the stars were blotted out at night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then one day he came to a place where he saw men with -yellow skins and teeth like a dog, who gathered about him. -Never before had he seen such people, who tore animals -apart and ate of the flesh, who tore skins from living creatures -and wore them on their own bodies. To make matters -worse, these yellow-skinned ones seized Capa and took -from him his glorious robes of gold and silver thread, tore -the feathers from his hair and plucked away the ruby that -he wore for its beauty. Then, greatly to his surprise, they -fell on one another, fighting for the things that they had -taken from Capa, so that the very robe they struggled for -was torn and trampled under foot. At that Capa turned -and fled back through the forest, never stopping day or -night, until he came to his own people.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Straight to the prince he went and told his tale, hearing -which, the prince was sad at heart.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You have,” he said, “been where there are greed and -selfishness and avarice, and it is bad for us. For those of -the yellow skin will not rest until they have found us and -brought sorrow into our midst.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then he called all his people together and they came, as -they always did, singing and dancing and bearing flowers, -and after them came the birds and animals, skipping and -flying, calling. But a great silence fell upon all when they -saw their Golden Prince, for his eyes were grave.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So he told the Gentle People all that Capa had seen, and -Capa himself stood by the side of his prince and sang a sad -song, so that the people knew of the evil on the other side -of the dark forest, and the hearts of the Gentle People were -as heavy as was the heart of the Golden Prince. And the -prince told them that if they chose, he would arm them and -lead them so that they could go forth and fight against the -yellow-faced men when they came, “but,” he went on to -say, “having learned to fight and to do hurt and to bring -death, then you yourselves will turn on each other, will -bring death to your own people. You will turn against -the animals and they will turn against you. You will walk -the land alone, and all things will avoid and hide from you. -These things of the earth, these bright and shining things -which to-day you take or leave as you wish, you will play -with no more, but will hide in boxes and under stones so -that others may not see them.” When he said this last he -picked up a handful of diamonds and rubies, of emeralds -and gold dust, and poured them from one hand to another, -so that it was as a cascade that fell bright and dazzling in -the sunlight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Fearing that, the Gentle Folk looked at one another, and -there was no doubt in their minds. “Far better,” said they, -“is it that we should change in some manner and flee away -than that we should do evil to the birds and beasts that are -our friends.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then the Golden Prince called on his people to follow -him, and as the yellow man broke through the forest as he -had said they would, he led all of them away swiftly, and -the multitude of animals and birds followed them. Having -arrived at a great valley where was a river, he told his people -that he would change their form so that they would -become for a time other creatures, but creatures that would -neither bite nor scratch nor spit poison, nor do any kind of -harm. So he changed them into huanacos, animals of proud -and graceful carriage, and their dress was of red and white -like the gold and silver they wore. Then when he saw his -people thus, friends of the birds and animals they loved, he -changed himself into one also, but greater and more beautiful -than any.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But there was a memory of that time, and even to this -day when a herd of huanacos is seen, there also is one standing -on a high rock as sentinel, keeping watch for the yellow -men. And when at last the prince huanaco died, he died -in the valley; seeing which, each of his people also laid -down their bones in that place, as you may read in many -books. So must it be until each and every huanaco has -passed away. Yet remember this: Where dies a huanaco, -there springs up a flower blue as the sky, its petals all gold-tipped. -And when the day comes in which the last huanaco -dies, then the yellow men will be gone. On that day each -flower will bend to its neighbour and, at a word, there will -stand a great host, for the spirit of the huanaco is in the flower -that is blue and gold-tipped. Then, for ever and ever, the -Gentle People will again have their land, and kindness and -gentleness and beauty and joy will be theirs once more.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo107.jpg' alt='' id='illo107' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>THE TALE THAT COST A DOLLAR</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/W.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='W'/>E sailed for many a day, Bob and I, up narrow -channels and down wide ones, twisting and -turning this way and that, east, west, north, south, -because of wind and tide and cape and bay, and then we -came to a kind of S-shaped strait. Through it we went and -found that it opened into a wide water, as smooth as glass -and so clear that we could see down to the sandy bottom -where seaweeds clung to rocks and fishes swam in a strange -greenish light. Then, by great good luck, we found a place -where was deep water and followed the channel landward, -and it turned out to be the cutting made by a stream of very -cold water that came down from the mountain. So there -was strange rowing for us, for we worked our boat into the -rivulet which was so narrow that very often both oars were -on the grassy land. When at last we stopped, it was because -the banks came so close together that our boat blocked -the passage, so we stepped to land as easily as one might -step onto a wharf.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Next morning, having covered our things from the foxes -and made all neat and shipshape, we set off on a walk, -climbed a high ridge and looked for a while over a confusion -of little islands and narrow straits, then wondered -at the blue of sea and sky, and after that wandered down -a long slope, to come soon to a pleasant valley, and the more -we saw of it the better we liked it. It seemed to have everything -desirable, soft grass, clear and cool water, shelter -from the winds, and peaceful quiet. A half-dozen horses -could be seen a little way off, and on a blue hill in the distance -there were cows and sheep. Soon we heard the voices -of children and the interlacing echoes. So we rounded the -hill and came upon houses, four of them altogether and -all thatched with yellow rushes. The children that we had -heard we saw, and they were playing with a pet huanaco, -and at one of the doors, seated on a rush-bottomed chair -was an old woman whose face was wrinkled and brown -though her body seemed as supple as that of a young person. -Seeing us the children left their play and stood, their dove-eyes -full of wonder.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For the rest of that day we rested, enjoying the place. In -the evening, when men and lads returned from their hunting -or their fishing or their herding or whatever they did, -there was good fellowship in the pleasant December twilight, -and as we talked and sang we became better acquainted. -Of course, like all travellers in that or any other -open country, we had to tell the tale of our wanderings, -how we came to be there and why, and when we had done, -one or the other of them told us what might be said to be -the history of their people, one helping the other out, correcting -the talker when he was at fault, and sometimes taking -the tale from him to tell it better.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They talked Spanish, for all were originally from Chile, -and we learned that the old woman’s husband, who was no -longer living, had been a soldier who had fought against -Peru and was on board a warship called the <span class='it'>Esmeralda</span> -which was sunk by another, and on that sad day, she said, -more than a hundred were drowned. A merciful Heaven -permitted her husband to get ashore after much danger, -and wandering, he had found the valley in which we then -were (for having found it he had gone to his own place, -which I took to be Ancud or somewhere near there), and -with three neighbour families they had wandered, delighted -to find a place where were no din and clashes and war. -“And,” said the old woman, lifting her hands and throwing -them a little apart, “here by the grace of Heaven we are -at peace.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When she had done the children chattered a little, insisting -that she had missed the most interesting part of all. -She should, they held, tell the strangers the tale of how the -valley had been made, of why there was a river, of how it -had come to pass that there were woods through which the -river flowed and especially why Laguna Viedma was salt. -The caballeros, they were sure, would like to know all -that, it being a tale most wonderful and strange. But the -old woman shook her head and made herself a cigarette, -saying that it was a tale told her by a very, very old Indian -woman who was there when she first saw the place, and the -Indian had heard it from her mother, and she from her -mother, and she again from her mother, so the tale went so -far back that whether it had truth in it or not none could -tell. At that the young people said that, true or not, it was -a good tale, and they were so politely insistent, especially a -little girl who petted a blue-eyed kitten, that we heard the -story which, so far as I know, has never yet been written, -and were it not written now might be forgotten for ever. -So here it is, and my daughters, Julia and Helen, like it -better than any story in this book, though their brothers -are in favour of the tale of the Noseless People.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>Long ago, said the old woman, south of the Laguna -Viedma lived a bruja, or kind of witch, a mean and wicked -creature who had a house at the foot of the cordilleras built -of great slabs of stone, in which there were three rooms. -In one of these rooms she had imprisoned a boy and in another -a girl, and the boy she allowed to roam about in the -garden in the daytime but locked him up whenever the sun -set, and the girl she locked up whenever the sun rose, so -that the boy had never known night and the girl had never -seen day, nor had the boy or the girl cast eyes on one another.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The boy, growing out of childhood, grew restless, and -one day he dug a passage in his stone cell under the wall -and up on the other side, much as a rabbit might have done, -so that after being locked up he could spend a little time -in the twilight, watching the dancing green stars that were -fireflies. Still, whenever it grew dark and the edges of -the things that he saw were no longer sharp, he scuttled -back to his stone room, not knowing what clawed horror -might unfold from the dark. For we must remember, said -the old woman who told the tale, in all his life he had seen -no human being but the witch, and knew no more of the -moving world than the horses that we use know of the -horses that drag a thousand noisy wheels in the city streets. -Nor did he know of the ten thousand silver lights in the sky -at night, nor of the bright glory of the Southern Cross.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One evening when the boy was in the vega, he having -crawled through his passage, his heart fell when he saw a -strange creature dressed in white, with long black hair and -soft eyes. When the strange thing walked towards him he -was startled, for he also saw the gray mist from which she -came, and in that mist he seemed to see other thickening -shapes. So, for a moment, he had a mind to kill the long-haired -creature as an evil thing, and picked up a sharp -stone, but his heart somehow bade him do otherwise, and -he turned and fled, running straight to his hole by the -side of the bush, then dropped to his knees without a backward -look, scrambled to his cell and put a big flat stone over -the hole, lest the long-haired one should follow and kill -him. As for the girl, seeing the swift-running lad, she -watched in surprise for a little, then followed, and coming -to the hole in the ground shuddered with fear, believing -that under the earth she trod lived thousands of such creatures -that, perchance, roamed in the daytime and did evil.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The next day when the witch let the lad out after shutting -the girl in her stone place, she was surprised to see fear in -his eyes, for all that night he had lain awake in his dread of -the long-haired one, trembling at every sound, lest the unknown -should find the passage and creep through into his -cell of safety.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All that day he worked hard, rolling a great boulder up -from the valley so that he might close the outer opening of -his burrow, but so heavy was the rock and so far the -distance, that the sun set before he had rolled it to its -place. Still, he moved it a long way and got it over his -burrow and close to the bush. Then he sought the witch -so that she might lock him up for the night, but to his grief -she did not come, and this is why:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After she had unlocked the girl’s door that evening she -remembered the look of fear that had been in the lad’s eyes, -so went into his cell to see if anything harmful was there, -and her foot struck the flat stone. Then she found the opening -of the hole. Wondering greatly, she crawled into the -passage, pushing hard because it was too small for her. -At one place she had to remove much dirt above her head -because the roof was so low, and pulling away a stone, down -came a shower of little stones and of earth, then more and -still more, until with a thundering noise the big boulder, -which the lad had rolled and left, fell into the hole and very -narrowly escaped the witch. So she was stuck fast, deep -buried in the ground, her onward way blocked by the -boulder against which she butted her head in vain. As -for getting back by the way she had come, that was impossible, -for, finding night coming on and no guardian -witch, the boy fled to his cell. There he saw the black, uncovered -hole and the flat rock he had placed over it, and -listening he heard sounds in the tunnel. In his fear of the -long-haired creature he pulled the flat rock over the hole -again and on it piled rock upon rock. That done he gave -a sigh of relief and straightened himself, but his heart sank -when he saw in his cell the very thing that he most dreaded. -For the girl, being brave in the dark and glad in the silence, -sought a companion in her loneliness, and found the boy’s -cell with its open door. But with the lad night brought -fear. In the golden sunshine he met danger gladly enough, -but in the soft moonlight when the true forms of things were -lost, the world seemed baseless and dreamlike and unsubstantial. -So, seeing the creature of the night in his cell, -he threw up his arms and, not daring to look, fled into the -garden and into the ghostly world.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The whispering stillness of what he saw made him tremble -violently, for it was a dead world and not the world throbbing -with the sweet song of friendly birds and the noise of -busy insects. The green and gold of day had strangely gone -and the brave hardness that he knew in his world was not -in the sky, but instead, a soft black roof hung with strange -lights. And even his feet were robbed of speed, and trees -and bushes clawed him. As he fled he looked over his -shoulder in affright because of the long-haired pursuer. -Not far did he go before a creeping vine caught him about -the ankle and his foot struck a root, so that he fell headlong, -striking his head against a tree-trunk. The silver-sprinkled -sky whirled wildly and then all went black.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He woke to the touch of delicate light hands bathing his -face with cool water, but lay with fast-closed eyes, believing, -hoping that it was a dream. Presently, though still -faint and weary and in pain, he opened his eyes to see the -face of the maiden as she bent over him, and the cloud of -soft hair that rippled as silk grass ripples when touched by -the breeze. As he looked, finding something gentle and -kind in the face, he chanced to see the white moon, great -and cold, rushing swiftly through an army of silver clouds. -The sight was new and terrible and he grew dizzy and faint. -Something evil seemed to have stolen the warmth from the -sky so that the birds had died and the flowers withered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With eyelids closed he wrestled with his fear and heard -the golden voice of the girl saying again and again:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Am I not your friend in this lonely place? Am I not -your friend? Why then do you run from me?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In spite of his fear he was wrapped in happiness at the -words, for he knew that he had been long lonely, though -he had not told himself so until then. Yet the darkness -stretching wide and the stars and the shadows made him -chill at heart, though like a true man he strove to master -his fear. While he kept his eyes closed it was well enough, -but to open them on the sunless world was pain. For all -that, he nerved himself to speak.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes. Let us go,” he said, “from this world of shadows,” -and she, thinking that he meant the place of the witch, took -his hand and said, “Yes. Let us go, my new-found friend.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He rose to his feet then and said that he was ready, though -he covered his eyes with his hand. Then she told him to -wait, saying she knew of a hollow place in a tree in which -was a flint the old witch had hidden, and the armadillo had -told her there was some magic in it, though what that magic -power was he did not know, except that it had the power to -cut down trees. It would be well, she added, for them to -take it with them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Great was his loneliness while she was away, and though -he opened his eyes once, all things were so strange and cold -and silent that he closed them again. Once he heard the -shrieking voice of the witch-woman under the ground and -he wondered why the sound was so muffled. Had she, too, -come near to death in the black world? Again he heard -the voice of the owl, melancholy and solemn.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But his new-found friend came soon, to his joy, and she -gave him the flint and took his hand to lead him, for he -dared not open his eyes because of the moon, and she thought -him sightless. So all that night they ran thus, hand in -hand, over places where there were cruel sharp stones, across -mist-blown swamps and pantano lands, and where the way -was hard he carried the maiden, though he always kept his -eyes closed and trusted to her guidance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So the girl was strong and helpful to him until the dark -began to pass, then, with the rose of dawn the lad cried -joyfully, “I fear no more now and am strong again. Perhaps -it is the magic of the flint that makes me so.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But she said, “Alas! I fear that the stone we carry is not -good but evil. Let us throw it away, for I grow weak and -afraid and ill at ease. Greatly I fear the sky so hard and -blue, my new-found friend.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that, he laughed a little and called her his -Golden One and bade her trust in him, so she was comforted -a little, though still afraid. Then, as the rose and gold of -sunrise sped across the sky and the thousand birds awoke -and burst into song, his heart was full of happiness, but -she, having heard no such noise before, wept with the utter -pain of it, clapping her hands over her ears. Her eyes, too, -were full of burning pain because of the growing flood of -light. Still, she fought with her fear for a while, though -she was sadly longing for the world with its friendly dark. -But when the sun came up in his brilliancy and the boy -greeted it with a great shout of joy, she was as one stunned -and said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Alas! Go, dear lad, and leave me to die all parched and -withered. For into the burning light I cannot go. My -eyes are scorched and my brain is on fire. The sweet silence -is no more and the heart of night is dead.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At that sad speech the lad was full of grief lest he -should lose his new-found friend, so he pulled from the -trees light-green branches and wove them into a canopy -and bound about her brow a veil of cool greenness, then -lifting her in his arms, he went on happy in the singing sunshine, -yet sad because she was white-faced and full of -strange tremblings. At noon, when the heat of day was -like brass and the sky was fierce with light, they came to a -place of tender green coolness where was a vine-hung -hollow in the mountainside, and there they rested awhile. -The lad made for the maid a seat of matted leaves and -mosses and brought to her berries and fruits and tender -roots, and for drink, cool water in a leaf.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So at last came the light between day and night when -neither was afraid, she brave at heart because of the passing -of the burning light of day and he fearless because the -night of sorrow had not yet come. Hand in hand they went -towards a great plain all flower-spangled and smiling.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The witch they had forgotten, or thinking of her had -supposed her to be fast in her own place. Yet it was not -so, for deep in the burrow in which she had vainly tried to -go back and as vainly tried to go forward she had her mind -made up to escape by some means. With a mighty heave, -for she was of great strength, she burst her way out of the -ground and then stood, shaking the dirt out of her eyes and -her ears and her hair. That done she sought the boy and -the girl, but found no trace of them. At last the armadillo -who always tells secrets, told her of what had happened, -so she sought the magic flint, the terrible cutting flint which -she could throw to kill. Finding it, too, gone, she was in -mad rage, whirling, leaping, and screaming. Another moment -and she left the place, going in mighty leaps, her bow -and arrow in her hand, and soon from the top of a hill she -saw the boy and girl as they stood looking at the smiling -valley.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now that valley was the valley of the huanacos wherein -the witch was powerless, and that she well knew. Did the -two once gain the shelter of the mountains, all her witcheries -would be of no avail. Indeed, that very thing the sentinel -huanaco was telling the children at the very moment -the witch caught sight of them, and the animal bade them -haste lest the witch touch them before they crossed the -plain. So hand in hand boy and girl ran, and seeing them -so near safety the witch went over the ground like a horse, -bounding over bush and stone, taking five yards at each -stride.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then to help the children, from right and from left came -huanacos, by tens and twenties and hundreds, their proud -heads held high, their soft eyes full of loving kindness, and -they ran by the side of the two who fled, and some formed -in a body behind them so that the arrows shot by the witch -could not touch boy or girl, though many a good huanaco -laid down his life, thus shielding them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Seeing the pass to which things had come, the old witch -bethought her of another plan, and taking her magic arrow -she shot it high in the air so that it passed over the herd of -huanacos and fell to earth far in front of the boy and girl. -As soon as the shaft touched the ground it split into a -thousand pieces, each no thicker than spider silk, and -each fragment took root and became a tree. In a single -moment the whole plain was covered with a thick, solemn -tangle of forest through which no living creature could -hope to pass, and sadly enough, boy and girl turned to -behold the witch coming toward them fast. But all about -her feet were the animal friends of the boy and girl, foxes -and small creatures, while about her head flew many tinamou-partridges, -so that soon she was forced to slacken her -pace. Then to boy and girl came a puma, smooth and -beautiful, and it said, “El pedernal! El pedernal!” and -they at once remembered the magic flint.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Taking the stone and poising it the lad threw with all -his might. Through the air it hummed, and hearing the -music of it the old witch gave a piercing yell, for well she -knew its power. Straight toward the forest the stone flew, -and before it trees fell to right and left as though the stone -had been a great and keen axe handled by a giant, and the -path it made was straight and open and clear, so that -through the gap they saw the valley. Again the huanacos -closed about the boy and girl so that nothing might harm -them, and down through the straight opening they all went. -Nor was that all. Having cut a way through the forest -tangle the flint dropped and buried itself into the ground, -boring down and down, until it fell into the lake of clear -water that lies hidden under the ground. Out of the hole -came bubbling a stream of water, silver and cool, and it -flowed down the gap in the forest and passed out on the -farther side, then split to run on both sides of the witch, to -whom water was death. Deeper and deeper became the -water until it covered the very colina on which she stood, -and when at last the water touched her feet, she melted as -sugar does.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The stream,” said the old woman who told us the tale, -“went on and on and became Laguna Viedma, and the -forest is the forest you see. As for the boy and the girl, -they became man and wife and lived in the place where we -now sit for many, many years, and about them stayed many -huanacos and deer and tinamou, and the sorry past was -soon forgotten like a last year’s nest.”</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;font-weight:bold;'>* * *</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Having said all that, the old woman, whose face was -wrinkled and brown, drew a white woollen poncho over her -shoulders and eyed me. After a while she said that she had -told that tale to four men at different times and each of them -had liked it so well that he had given her a dollar of silver.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And,” said she with spirit, “I can show you the dollars -to prove that what I say is true.” So getting up she went -into the house and soon came out again with four silver -coins, carrying them in her open palm. For a little while -she was silent and so was I, and the men sitting around pretended -to be inattentive and lit cigarettes and blew smoke -rings, jangling their big spurs now and then. Presently -the old woman said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Some day a brave caballero will hear the tale and he -will make the four dollars to be five.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Thinking it well to be counted brave, and hoping that I -was a gentleman, I brought her expectations to pass, having -a dollar with me, as luck had it. And certainly I think that -the tale was worth a dollar, and if it was not, then it was -worth many dollars to rest a while in that quiet place and -to meet such worthy and simple folk.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo122.jpg' alt='' id='illo122' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>THE MAGIC KNOT</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/T.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='T'/>HERE was once a lad whose name was Borac who -might have been the son of a king, and again might -not. No one ever really knew, though a wise old -woman who lived near by said that he was, and so many -things that she said were found to be true that people believed -what she said of Borac. Borac was found by the -side of a lake by a man who was gathering fruit. This -man saw what he took to be a shining white stone, and, -going to it, found a basket neatly made of silk grass lined -with soft white feathers, and in it, warm and cosy like a -bird in a nest, was the child Borac. So the man took the -basket and the baby home with him, and his children were -delighted with their new playmate. That made four children -for the man and his wife to take care of, for he had -three of his own, but good luck came to him from the day -he found Borac and things went very well. As for the newcomer, -he was treated exactly as were the rest of the children -in that house, and like them grew strong of limb and -ruddy of face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So there were two boys and two girls, playmates, and -each day was a golden one for them. Somehow, Borac -seemed to see things and to know things that the others -often missed. Not that his sight was any better than the -sight of his foster-brother and -sisters, for in the place -where they lived at the foot of the mountains, where the -air was clean and sharp, everyone had good eyesight. -Things at a distance were as clear-cut as things are when -you look through a field-glass. But as Borac grew, he saw -beauty in common things and pointed out to the others -the colours in the sunset sky, the pure blue of the lake -water, the sun-sparkle on the stream, and the fresh green -of the hill grass. Then, too, there were the songs of the -birds. That music they had grown up with, had heard so -often that they had forgotten the beauty of it all, until one -day Borac began to call like a bird and from every tree -and bush came a chorus so rich and so wonderful that the -joy in their hearts was more like a sweet pain. You know -how that is.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now there was a place in the mountains where the cliff -ran straight up, and so smooth it was that no one had ever -climbed it, though the children there were sure-footed as -goats and could climb the highest places without growing -faint or dizzy when high up.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Half-way up this cliff was a broad ledge on which a condor -had built its nest, and Borac and his friends often -played at the foot of the cliff and loved to watch the condor -drop off of his rock shelf with spread wings and float -far above, winding in mighty circles for hours, floating -higher and higher into the sky without wing motion and -just leaning over, it seemed, to go with the wind or against -the wind, up and up, until he looked no larger than a -humming-bird against the blue. So high he went sometimes -that if one but blinked for a moment, the little black -spot seemed to disappear. If any one of them had been -granted a wish, that wish would have been that he or she -might have the power to soar and wheel like the great bird, -sweeping up in a great curve to hang in the air, floating -downward in a long, long line, sliding, as it were, to sweep -up again at will.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One day when Borac and his three friends were there, -one of the girls called out in great trouble, pointing up the -face of the cliff to a place where was a cranny, and looking, -the others saw a large mottled owl with two staring eyes -perched on a point of rock, and just below they could make -out a pigeon on its nest. It seemed to them that the owl was -screaming, “Ah! I see you, little dove. Sharp as needles -are my claws. Sharp, too, is my beak to tear you, and little -owls are hungry for the flesh of doves.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That seemed very terrible to those who saw, and the four -children began to shout and to throw stones, trying to chase -the owl away, but it was of no use. The nest of the rock-pigeon -was too far away and the face of the rock too smooth -and sheer for any of them to climb, so there seemed nothing -for it but to watch until the little bird was captured. The -pigeon, they saw, was in great fear, but in spite of the -danger stayed on the nest. As for the owl, he turned his -face downwards toward them, hearing the noise, and they -saw his cruel eyes and his head-feathers that were like horns, -but he gave no sign of going away. Indeed, he hooted at -them, as if to say, “Who cares for you, little earth-creatures?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To the watchers it was like a jailor hanging over a -prisoner who is innocent, or like a man with a sword about -to deal a death-blow to a child. It was very sad to them to -see the dove all helpless and, above her, the owl ready to -dash down at any moment. As for Borac, he was so full -of grief that he had started to climb the cliff, though it was -clear to him as well as to his friends that he could not -mount far. When he had climbed some little way up, a -wonderful thing came to pass. From the sky where the -condor wheeled, came dropping a long feather, a wing-feather -which the great bird had plucked, and it fell spinning -and at last rested on a little rock hump close to Borac’s -right hand. His left hand, meanwhile, was clutching fast -to the rock above his head.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now why Borac should pick up such a thing as a feather -when he needed his hands free he did not know, and certainly -none of his friends could guess. But he did so, and -not only that but looked at it curiously, just as you would -do, to note the smooth lines of it and the beauty of the -thing. And as he did this he twisted it just a little, gave it -a turn with his fingers. At that he floated gently from the -face of the rock, out from the cliff and into the air, until -he was poised over the heads of his companions, hanging as -lightly as a piece of thistle-down. Again he twisted it, -just a little, and went upward. Then he tried other things, -pointing it a little toward the face of the cliff, and, wonderful -enough, floated that way. So he as well as the children -knew that there was magic in the feather. Up then he -darted with its aid, swiftly as the swiftest bird, rushing -through the air, then swooped away from the cliff most -beautifully, went upward again, made a great circle as he -dived again, then shot upward, and so to the place where -the owl sat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Seeing him, the sharp-clawed thing raised its wings and -softly flew away and was seen no more.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Somehow, the three at the foot of the cliff were not at all -afraid. They knew everything would come right. Indeed, -they leaped with joy and delight when they saw -Borac standing on the rock ledge, and they clapped their -hands when they heard the little slate-coloured creature -coo with gratitude when the owl vanished. But what Borac -did next they could not tell, though they saw him stoop and -pick up something.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This is what happened: Borac, up there, saw behind the -dove’s nest a coil of silky stuff no thicker than a fine thread, -and in the middle of it was a queer knot. At first he -thought it was a part of the nest, so would not touch it, but -soon the bird rose from its nest, picked up the end of the -thread, and walked with it to Borac. He took it then, -wound in the rest of the coil, and it lay in his hand taking -up no more room than a wild cherry would, so very fine it -was in texture. But he knew at once that he had the magic -knot of which the old woman had so often spoken, the magic -knot that could bind evil things, though they were so strong -that they could lift rocks. How the magic knot got there -neither he nor any one else could know, and it did not matter -very much. Certainly but for it, the owl would have -captured the dove. The condor may have known about -it, for condors are very wise, travel far, and see much that -escapes the eyes of men. Anyway, Borac did not stay long, -but feather in hand leaped into the air, though he was so -high that his friends looked to him no larger than foxes, and -swooping down landed lightly on the earth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then there were experiments. Each of the children -wanted to try the feather in turn and great fun they had -that evening, flying higher and higher as they grew braver, -until at last each of them had stood on the faraway shelf -where was the condor’s nest. It was easy to do and they -found that all would go well so long as there was neither -doubt nor fear. The magic feather would carry them quite -safely so long as they believed in it. If they did not believe -in it, then not a foot could they get from the earth. -As for the magic thread with its wonderful knot, what good -that might be they did not know, but it was certainly magic, -and magic things, as they knew, always come in useful. So -they guarded it carefully, packing it away in a nutshell -where it should be handy when needed. And the magic -knot came in useful much sooner than they expected, and if -you are not going to be scared you may hear the tale, but -if the hearing of it will make you nervous in the dark, or -cause you to be afraid so that at night, being outside the -house and nearing it, you make a hurried run to get to the -door, then you had better read no farther. For you may -as well understand that the magic knot did actually do the -work and the thing that it bound is bound for ever and ever, -so that no one of you should be afraid of the dark, nor be -shivery as your hand is set on the door latch lest something -should leap out of the dark and seize you.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Here then is the place to stop if you are timid, but if you -are not you may read what comes next and after these three -stars:</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;font-weight:bold;'>* * *</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One night in the village next to that in which Borac and -his three friends lived, something happened. In a little -house that sat near a clearing some people were sitting talking, -and being thirsty one of them asked the boy of the -house to take the gourd and go to the stream for water. He -did so, going bravely into the dark, for the stream was but -a hundred steps away from the house door. The people in -the house waited and waited, wondering why the boy was -so long, and at last someone went to look for him. Down -to the little river they went and back again, but there was -no sign of the boy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now that was bad enough, but what was worse was that -on the next night a boy went to visit a friend who lived five -houses away, and that boy never reached his friend’s house. -His father and mother went to look for him and traced his -footsteps in the sandy road, but came to a place where the -steps stopped and beyond was smooth sand. Then on the -third night something happened. A girl and her sister -were visiting and the younger girl started to go home alone. -No sooner had she left than her sister, remembering how -the boys had vanished, ran after her to bear her company. -The night was moonless and a thin cold mist hid the stars, -but the sister could see the little one’s white dress a little -way ahead. She could not see very plainly because it was -so dark, but there was no mistake about it. The fluttering -white thing was in front, cloudy looking certainly, but there. -Then of a sudden something happened. The white cloud -that was a dress had vanished. So the older sister ran to -the place and heard a voice calling and the sound seemed -to come from above her head. She looked up and saw a -flutter of white for an instant, then nothing more. Her -sister had vanished exactly as a bubble vanishes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Because of all that there was terror in the village. In -the day the people were nervous enough, but at night there -was great fear. No one dared stir out after sunset. Even -within doors people sat as if on thorns. Then one night -when there was no glimmer of light in the sky, a family sitting -in a house heard a great tearing sound as if some giant -hand was pulling at the thatched roof. The light in the -house went out and those who sat in the room crouched -trembling, crowding close to one another, their hearts throbbing. -When at last it was quiet again they saw that a -ragged hole was in the roof, and on the earth floor there -was a mark like the claw of a great bird.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That was all, but there was trouble in the hearts of the -people, and soon the news of it all came to Borac. He -listened to the tale attentively and so did the wise old -woman who was there. She nodded thoughtfully and said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But have no fear. Things will not go ill while the moon -shines.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She said much more, particularly asking Borac if he had -the magic knot, and then she told him what to do. And -with the growing moon the trouble ceased.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Meanwhile, Borac was busy. The old woman had talked -with him as has been said, and day after day with the help -of his magic feather he made great flights, circling high in -the sky, crossing valleys, and passing over mountain and -lake, and seeing strange lands far to the west and the great -ocean that reached far until it touched the sky. Then the -condors were good to him and with them he flew hither -and thither, as fast and as high as they, never tiring, never -lagging, and they took him in a new direction and to a place -where out of a great bare valley rose a monstrous black -bird, a bird so strong that it could bear away a llama in -each claw and another in its beak. So big it was that beside -it a condor seemed tiny. It was an ugly bird and -the eye of it was heavy-lidded and baleful, its claws sharp. -The wings flapped so heavily that the wind from them -caused the trees near by to bend their tops as if they leaned -to whisper, one to another. Borac at once knew it for the -great bird of evil that swooped down on dark nights and -carried men away, and he also knew that in the world -there was but one and that it laid but one egg.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For many days the lad watched, following the bird -wherever it went, and at last discovered its foul nest high -up in the mountains where man never set foot. By the -side of its nest, in which was an egg so great that a goat -might have hidden in the shell of it, was a hole in the -rock. In this hole, the sides of which were very steep, were -all those whom the great bird had carried away. Day by -day, as Borac saw, the bird dropped fruit down into the -hole, so that the unhappy creatures might live until the -egg was hatched, when they would, he knew, be taken out -and given to the young one to eat. When the great bird -had flown away, Borac ventured close to the hole and called -out to the people there to be of good cheer, for he would -rescue them soon and also kill the bird.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Back to his own place he flew then with his magic -feather and told everyone what he had seen, and, as the wise -old woman advised, Borac and his friends chose a stout -tree and cut the top and the branches from it. They then -formed the trunk into the shape of a youth, leaving the -roots fast in the earth. This figure they painted and -covered with a garment and in the hand of it they put a -large gourd, so that from afar the thing looked like one -going for water. Close to it they built a house of poles and -covered it with grass for a roof, in the fashion of the -country, and all that they had ready before the moon was -again dark. Then everything being prepared, Borac went -into the house and waited.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Three nights he was there, then taking his feather flew -here and there. At last he saw a great black cloud swiftly -moving, which he knew to be the evil bird, so he made for -his house and soon there came a great tearing sound in the -air. As the bird came it set up a terrific screeching and -the noise that it made with the beating of its wings was like -thunder-claps. Down it swooped on the man of wood, -claws outstretched and beak open, and in another moment -it had seized the figure and was trying to lift it. The -more the figure resisted, the tighter the evil bird held, its -claws and beak fast sunk in the wood. So fearful were its -struggles that the earth about the root of the tree heaved, -and it seemed as if the roots would be torn out bodily. -Then finding that it could not move the thing, the bird -made to fly away, but its talons and beak were held by the -wood as if in a vise. All its flappings and tearings then -were of no avail, and try as it would, it could not release -itself. Faster and harder it beat its wings and the wind -from them bowed the bushes and shook the house in which -Borac was hidden.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then Borac came forth with magic feather and magic -knot, and was soon in the air above the struggling bird. -Hovering there he unloosed the thread with the magic knot -and lowered it. Down it dropped and was soon entangled -in the beating wings like a web about a fly, and, slight -though the thread was, against the power of the magic knot -nothing could prevail. So in a short time the great black -bird was bound for ever.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the morning Borac flew to the nest in the far valley -and went down into the pit in which were the unlucky ones -that the bird had caught. One by one he carried them -from that place and to their homes. As for the egg, putting -his shoulder against it he tumbled it from the ledge where -the nest was, and it fell and was smashed to pieces. So -there was an end of the evil bird, which soon died; and it -was the last of its kind; and to-day, of all the birds of the -air, there are none to do harm to man.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo134.jpg' alt='' id='illo134' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>THE BAD WISHERS</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/F.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='F'/>OR days and days and for weeks and weeks Canassa -and I rode to the south, and the only break in our -days was when we changed our tired horses for fresh -ones. That we did sometimes four times in the day. We -had plenty of choice, for we were driving some three hundred -mares and colts. Canassa was a gaucho, a plainsman, -as we would say, and a most excellent horseman, so he made -nothing at all of catching an unbroken colt with his lasso -and saddling and riding it, doing his share of the driving -with the horse new to saddle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With so much of it I grew tired, and one night as we -sat about our little campfire heating water for our maté, the -tea we made from herbs, I said that I wished the job was -at an end.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Canassa strummed his guitar awhile, then laid it aside -and said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Wishes are no good and he who wishes, risks. For why? -Whenever you wish, you leave out something that should -not be left out, and so things go wrong.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I told him that a small wish might be all right, but this -he would not allow. Things had to go just so, he said, and -no one in the world was wise enough to wish things as they -should be wished. Then, in the way of the men of the -pampas, he told me a tale to prove the truth of what he -said, and this was the tale:</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>Once there was a woman in Paraguay who had no children -and she wished day and night for a boy and a girl. -She did more than wish, going to a place in the woods -where were wild sweet limes and oranges and lemons, and -where the pools were covered with great leaves of waterliles, -and in the quiet of that place she made a song about -the children she wished for. In that song she sang of the -boy as handsome and swift of foot and strong of arm, and -she sang of the girl as a light creature with keen eyes and -silken hair. Day after day she did this and at last her -wish came true, for she had a boy and a girl and the boy -was straight-limbed and well made and the girl as lovely -as a flower of the air.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So far, so good. But that was not the end. The woman -had wished that the boy might be strong and brave and -swift and all these he was. But she had not thought of other -things, and, sad to say, he lacked sight. For him there was -neither day nor night, neither sun nor moon, neither green -of the pampas nor blue of the sky. As for the girl, it is -true that she had sight so keen that she could see the eye of -a humming-bird at a hundred paces, but her legs were -withered and useless and she could not walk, for the mother -in wishing had said nothing of her health and strength. To -crawl about, helping herself with her hands, was as much as -she could do.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Seeing what had come to pass the mother was very sad, -for her dream had become a very pesadilla, a nightmare. -So she grieved and each day grew paler, and at last one -evening caught her children in her arms and kissed them -and they saw her no more, the neighbours next morning -telling them that she had died.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now one day when the children were well grown, there -came to the house in which they lived a man in a torn -poncho who said that he had walked hundreds of miles, -from the land of the Noseless People where it is always -cold. He was tired and hungry and torn with thorn-bushes, -and his feet were cut with stones. So the boy and girl -took him into the house and gave him water to wash himself -with and chipa bread made of mandioca flour and -sweet raspadura in banana leaves. When he was well -rested and refreshed, in return for their great kindness he -told them of a strange old witch-woman who lived far -away, one who knew many secrets by means of which she -could do wonderful things.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In a turn of the hand,” said he, “she could make the -girl strong of limb and with another turn could restore sight -to the lad.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then he went on to tell of other witches that he knew, -saying that there were many who were not all bad, but -like men, were a mixture. True, they sometimes kept children, -but that was not to be laid to their meanness but -rather to their love of beauty. “For,” he said, “it is -no more wrong to keep a child to look at than it is -to pluck a flower or to cage a bird. Or, to put it another -way, it is as wrong to cage a bird as it is to steal a -child.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The meal being done the three of them sang a little, and -the sun being set the old man bade them good-night and -stretched out under a tree to sleep, and the next morning -before the children awoke he had gone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All that day brother and sister talked much of what the -old man had told them, and the girl’s face flushed red and -her eyes were bright as she looked at her brother and -thought of how sweet it would be if he could see the mists -of the morning and the cool cleanness of the night. Meanwhile -he in his dark world wondered how he could find -his way to the witch and persuade her to work her magic, -so that his sister might be able to go up and down, and to -skip and dance on limbs that were alive. So at last they -fell to talking, and the end of it all was that they started -on a journey to the witch, the brother carrying the sister -on his shoulder while she guided him safely through thorn-thicket, -past swamps where alligators lay hidden, and -through valleys where bushy palmetto grew shoulder high. -Each night they found some cool place where was a spring -of crystal, or a pool of dark sweet water, and at last they -came to the little hills where the witch lived.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They found that all was as the old man had said, for the -witch was a lonely creature who saw few, because few -passed that way. She was glad enough to see her visitors -and led them to a fragrant leafy place, and seeing that the -girl was drooping like a wind-wearied bird, did what things -she could. To the boy she told tales of the birds and the -golden light of the sun and the green of spreading branches, -thinking that with her tales they would be comforted and -content to stay with her in her soft green valley. But the -more she did for their comfort and the more she told them -of the wonders of the world, the greater was their desire to -be whole, the girl with her limbs unbound, the boy with his -eyes unsealed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Before long the lad told the witch of the old man’s visit -and of their hopes that had led them to take the great -journey, and then the old woman’s heart fell as she saw her -dream of companionship vanish. She knew that as soon -as they were whole again they would leave her as the birds -that she fed and tended in nesting time left her when winter -came. Then she told them no more pleasant tales, but tales -of things dead and cold, of gray skies and desert places, of -tangled forests where evil things lived.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is better not to see at all,” she said, “than to see foul -things and heart-searing things.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But the boy spoke up and said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There being such things, the more I would have my -eyesight, so that I might clear those tangled forests of the -evil beasts of which you speak.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that, the witch sighed, though her heart was -glad at the boy’s words. So she turned to the girl, telling -her of the harm that sometimes came to those who walked, -of the creatures that do violence and scratch and maul; of -stocks and stones that hurt and cut tender feet; of venomous -things that hide under rocks. But the girl heard patiently, -then clasped her hands and said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And that is all the more reason that I ask what I -ask, for with feet light and active I can skip away -from the hurtful things, if indeed my brother does not kill -them.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well,” said the witch, “perhaps when you know the -beauty of the place in which I live, you will be content to -stay with me. I must do what you ask because you are what -you are by reason of a wish that went wrong. Now to get -the magic leaves with which to cure you I must take a -journey of a day and a night, and it is part of the magic -that those who would be cured must do a task. So to-morrow -while I am away you must work, and if I find the -task finished you shall be cured. But if you should not finish -the task, then all will remain as it is; but I will be eyes for -the boy, telling him of the fine things of the world, and for -the girl I will be as limbs, running for her, working for her. -But I shall do and not wish. Truth is that I would gladly -see both of you whole again, but then you would go away, -and I sorely lack companionship.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After a little the witch said to the girl:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tell me, little one, if this place were yours what would -you do to make it better to live in?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I would,” answered the girl, “have all the thorn-bushes -taken away that are now in the little forest behind the house, -so that Brother could walk about without being scratched -and torn.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That is fair enough,” said the witch. “And you, boy, -what would your wish be?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I would have all the little stones that are in the valley -taken away, so that Sister could play on the soft grass without -being hurt.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well,” said the witch, “it is in the magic that you set -your own tasks. So the boy must have every stone cleared -away before I return and the girl must see to it that there -are no more thorn-bushes. Hard are the things that you -have wished.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After the witch had gone there was no joy in the hearts -of the children, for it seemed impossible that a blind boy -should gather the stones and no more possible for a lame -girl to clear the forest. There was a little time in which -they tried, but they had to give up. So they stood wondering, -and for a moment thought of starting for their own -home.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Suddenly, strange to tell, who should come over the hill -but the old man in the torn poncho, and they were both very -glad to see him. After he had rested awhile they told him -their troubles and spoke of their grief because, in spite of -all their efforts, it seemed as though all must come to -naught.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I wish——” began the boy, but the old man stopped -him with lifted finger.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Wishing never does,” he said. “But help does much -and many can help one.” He put his fingers to his mouth -and gave a peculiar whistle, and at once the sky was darkened -with birds and each bird dropped to the ground, picked -up a stone and flew away with it, so that the valley was -cleared in a moment. He gave another whistle and from -everywhere came rabbits which ran into the woods, skipping -and leaping, and at once set to work to gnaw the stems -of the bushes. And as soon as the bushes fell, foxes came -and dragged them away, so that in an hour the forest was -clear, and when the witch came back, behold, the set task -was done!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So the witch took the leaves that she had brought and -made a brew of them, giving the liquid to brother and -sister to drink. “But,” said she, “see to it that you speak -no word, for if you do before sunset, then back you go to -your old state.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Both promised that heartily and drank. But as soon as -the boy saw the green of the grass, and the blue and crimson -and purple flowers, and the humming-birds like living -diamonds in the shade, he called out in his great joy:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, Sister, see how beautiful!” and at once he was in -utter darkness again. At the same moment, feeling her -limbs strong, the girl was filled with such delight that she -tossed her arms into the air and danced. Then from her -came a keen cry of pain as she heard her brother’s cry and -knew that he was blind again. There was a moment when -she wanted to lose all that she had gained so that she could -tell her brother that she shared his grief, but she remembered -that being strong she could help him in his pain, -so she went to him and took him by the hand and kissed his -cheek.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At sunset the boy, who had been sitting quiet, spoke, turning -his sightless face to the witch.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You have tried to be good to us,” he said, “and you -have been as kind as it lay in your power to be. Since -Sister is well, I am content. And I have seen the beauty of -the world, though it was in a flash. So, mother witch, since -you have not been able to give us all we ask, we will give -you all that we have. Come, then, to the place where we -live and see the things that we love, the birds and the -flowers and the trees, and we will try in kindness to repay -you for what you have done.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that, the witch suddenly burst into singing and -hand-clapping and told them that the spell was broken because -she had been befriended.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No witch am I,” she said, “but your own mother who -did not die, but was changed to this form for vain wishes.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then the boy regained his sight and the mother became -as she had been, tall and straight and beautiful and kind, -and the three of them went to their old home and lived there -for many years, very happy and contented.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo143.jpg' alt='' id='illo143' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>THE HUNGRY OLD WITCH</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/S.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='S'/>HE was a witch, she was very old, and she was -always hungry, and she lived long ago near a forest -where now is Uruguay, and just in the corner where -Brazil and Argentina touch. They were the days when -mighty beasts moved in the marshes and when strange creatures -with wings like bats flew in the air. There were also -great worms then, so strong that they bored through mountains -and rocks as an ordinary worm makes its way through -clay. The size and the strength of the old witch may be -guessed when you know that she once caught one of the -giant worms and killed it for the sake of the stone in its -head. And there is this about the stone—it is green in -colour and shaped like an arrow-head a little blunted, and -precious for those who know the secret, because he who has -one may fly through the air between sunrise and sunset, but -never in the night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The old witch had another secret thing. It was a powder, -and the knowledge of how to make it was hers alone and is -now lost. All that is known of it is that it was made -from the dried bodies of tree-frogs mixed with goat’s milk. -With it she could, by sprinkling a little of it where wanted, -make things grow wonderfully. She could also turn plants -to animals with it, or change vines into serpents, thorn-bushes -into foxes, little leaves into ants. Living creatures -she also changed, turning cats into jaguars, lizards into alligators, -and bats into horrible flying things.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This old witch had lived for hundreds of years, so long -indeed that the memory of men did not know a time when -she was not, and fathers and grandfathers and great grandfathers -all had the same tale to tell of how she had always -devoured cattle and pigs and goats, making no account at -all of carrying off in one night all the animals of a village. -To be sure, some had tried to fight her by shooting arrows, -but it was of no use, for by her magic the shafts were bent -into a shape like a letter V as soon as they touched her. So -in time it came about that men would put outside the village -in a corral one half of what they had raised in a year, letting -the old witch take it, hoping that thus she would leave -them in peace.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At last there grew up a lad, a sober fellow of courage, -who said little and thought much, and he refused to take -animals to the corral when the time came for the old witch -to visit that place.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the people asked him his reason for refusing, he -said that he had had a dream in which he saw himself as a -bird in a cage, but when he had been there a little while a -sweet climbing vine had grown up about the cage and on -this vine was a white flower which twisted its way in between -the bars. Then, as he looked at it, the flower changed -to a smiling maiden who held a golden key in her hand. -This key she had given to him and with it he had opened -the door of the cage. So, he went on to say, both he and the -maiden had gone away. What the end of the dream was he -did not know, for at that point he had wakened with the -sound of singing and music in his ears, from which he -judged that all turned out well, though he had not seen the -end of it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Because of this dream and what it might betoken he said -that he would not put anything in the corral for the old -witch, but instead would venture forth and seek her out, -to the end that the land might be free from her witcheries -and evil work. Nor could any persuade him to the contrary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is not right,” he said, “that we should give away for -nothing that which we have grown and tended and learned -to love, nor is it right that we should feed and fatten the evil -thing that destroys us.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So the wise men of that place named the lad by a word -which means Stout Heart, and because he was loved by all, -many trembled and turned pale when the morning came on -which he took his lance and alone went off into the forest, -ready for whatever might befall.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For three days Stout Heart walked, and at last came to -a place all grassy and flowery, where he sat down by the -side of a lake under a tree. He was tired, for he had -walked far that day and found that slumber began to overtake -him. That was well enough, for he was used to sleep -under the bare heavens, but with his slumber came confused -dreams of harmful things which he seemed to see coming -out of the ground, so he climbed into the tree, where he -found a resting-place among the branches and was soon -asleep.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While he slept there came to the side of the lake the old -witch, who cast her basket net into the water and began to -fish, and as she fished she sang in a croaking and harsh voice -this:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Things in the air,</p> -<p class='line0'>Things in the water—</p> -<p class='line0'>Nothing is fair,</p> -<p class='line0'>So come to the slaughter.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>They were not the words, but that is what the words -meant. But unpleasant as was the song, yet it worked a -kind of charm, and things came to her, so that her basket net -was filled again and again. The fish she cast into a -kind of wicker cage, of which she had several.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Soon the croaking song chased sleep from the eyes of -Stout Heart, and looking down he saw the wrinkled crone -and the great pile of fish that she had cast on the bank, and -his heart was grieved for two things—one that there was -such waste of good life, the other that he had left his spear -hidden in the grass. He grieved too, a little, because he -knew that on account of his long walk he was weak from -hunger and thirst. So there seemed little that could be -done and he sat very still, trusting that until he was better -prepared for action the old witch would not see him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But all his stillness was of no avail. Looking at the -shadow of the tree as it lay upon the surface of the water, -she saw the lad’s shadow. Then she looked up and saw -him. Had she had her magic green stone with her, things -would have been far different and this tale all the shorter. -But not having it and being quite unable to climb trees, she -said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You are faint and hungry. Come down, come down, -good lad, for I have much here that is good to eat.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that, Stout Heart laughed, knowing that she -was not to be trusted, and he told her that he was very well -indeed where he was. So she tried another trick, spreading -on the grass fruits and berries, and saying in a wheedling -voice:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Come, son, eat with me. I do not like to eat alone. -Here are fresh fruits and here is honey. Come down that -I may talk with you and treat you as a son, for I am very -lonesome.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But Stout Heart still laughed at her, although, to be -sure, he was a lad of great appetite and his hungriness increased -in him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Have you any other trap to set for me?” he asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that, the witch fell into a black and terrible rage, -dancing about and gnashing her teeth, frothing at the mouth -and hooking her long nails at him like a cat, and the sight -of her was very horrible, but the lad kept his heart up and -was well content with his place in the tree, the more as he -saw her great strength. For in her rage she plucked a great -rock the size of a man’s body from the earth where it was -sunk deep, and cast it at the tree with such force that the -tree shook from root to tip.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For a moment the old witch stood with knit brows, then -she went on her hands and knees and fell to gathering up -blades of grass until she had a little heap. All the time -she was cursing and groaning, grumbling and snarling like -a cat. When she had gathered enough grass she stood up -and began to sprinkle a grayish powder over the grass heap, -and as she did this she talked mumblingly, saying:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Creep and crawl—creep and crawl!</p> -<p class='line0'>Up the tree-trunk, on the branch.</p> -<p class='line0'>Creep and crawl—creep and crawl!</p> -<p class='line0'>Over leaf and over twig.</p> -<p class='line0'>Seek and find the living thing.</p> -<p class='line0'>Pinch him, bite him, torture him.</p> -<p class='line0'>Creep and crawl—creep and crawl!</p> -<p class='line0'>Make him drop like rotting fruit.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>So she went on, moving about in a little circle and sprinkling -the powder over the grass. Presently the pile of grass -began to move as if it hid some living thing, and soon the -grass blades became smaller, rounded themselves, and -turned brown. Then from them shot out fine hair-like -points which became legs, and so each separate leaf turned -to an ant. To the tree they scurried and up the trunk -they swarmed, a little army marching over every leaf and -twig until the green became brown, and louder and louder -the old witch screamed, waving her arms the while:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Creep and crawl—creep and crawl!</p> -<p class='line0'>Up the tree-trunk, on the branch.</p> -<p class='line0'>Creep and crawl—creep and crawl!”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>The nearer to Stout Heart that they came, the louder she -shrieked, leaping about and waving her long-taloned hands -as she ordered:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Seek and find the living thing.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>Then Stout Heart knew that trouble was brewing indeed, -for against so many enemies there was no fighting. For a -time he avoided them, but for a time only, and that by going -higher and higher in the tree, crawling along the branch -that hung over the lake, but nearer and nearer the ants -came, and louder she bade them to</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Pinch him, bite him, torture him.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>At last there was nothing for it but to drop out of the -tree, for he had been hanging to the end of a branch and -the ants were already swarming over his hands and some -running down his arms. So he let go his hold and went -into the lake with a splash, down out of the sunshine and -into the cool green-blue of the waters. He swam a little, -trying to get out of the way before coming up, but had to -put his head out soon to get a breath. Then suddenly he -seemed to be in the middle of something that was moving -about strangely, and it was with a sudden leaping of the -heart that he found himself in the old witch’s basket net being -drawn ashore. To be sure, he struggled and tried to -escape, but it was of no use. What with her magic and her -strength he was no more in her hands than is a little fish in -the hands of a man. He was all mixed up with other lake -things, with fish and with scum, with water-beetles and -sticky weed, with mud and with wriggling creatures, and -presently he found himself toppled head foremost into a -basket, all dazed and weak. It was dark there, but by the -bumping he knew that he was being carried somewhere.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Soon he was tumbled into an evil-smelling place and must -have fallen into a trance, or slept. Again, he may not have -known what passed because of the old witch’s enchantments, -for when he came to himself he did not know whether he -had been there for a long time or a little. But soon he -made out that he was in a stone house and through a small -hole in the wall saw that the place where the house stood -was bare of grass and full of great gray rocks, and he remembered -his dream and thought that it was all very unlike -what had really happened.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But in that he was not altogether right, for while he was -in no cage and no twining vine with glorious flower was -there, yet there was something else. For after a little while -a door opened, and he saw standing in a light that nearly -blinded him with its brightness a maiden full of winning -grace, and light and slender, who stretched out her hand to -him and led him out of the dark into a great hall of stone -with a vast fireplace. Then having heard his story, which -brought tears to her blue eyes, she opened a lattice and -showed him a little room where he might hide.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“For,” said she, “I also was brought to this place long -ago, and when I came the old witch killed one who was her -slave before me. But before she died she told me the story -of the green stone which the witch has, and also how were -used the magic powders. Since then I have been here alone -and have been her slave. But now she will kill me and -will keep you for her servant until she tires of you, when -she will catch another. And so it has been for many, many -years, and each one that dies has told the power of the green -stone to the other, though none had dared to use it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now hearing all that, Stout Heart was all for running -away at once and taking the maiden from that dreadful -place, but just as he opened his mouth to speak there came -to their ears the voice of the old witch.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hide then,” said the maiden, “and all may yet go well. -For I must go to get the green stone by means of which we -may fly. With you I will dare. Alone I was afraid to -venture.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Even then he hesitated and did not wish to hide, but she -thrust him into a little room and closed the door. Through -the wall he heard the witch enter and throw a pile of wood -on the hearth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have a new prize,” said the ogress. “You I have fattened -long enough and now you must be my meal. One -slave at a time is enough for me, and the lad will do. Go -then, fetch pepper and salt, red pepper and black, and see -to it that you lose no time, for I am hungry and cannot -wait.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The girl went into another room and the witch fell on her -knees and began to build a roaring fire. Soon the maiden -reëntered, but running lightly, and as she passed the old -woman she cast on her some of the magic powder which she -had brought instead of salt and pepper. The hag had no -idea that it was the powder that the girl had thrown, and -thinking that she had been careless with the salt and pepper -began to scold her, then getting to her feet took her by the -hair, opened the door of the little room in which Stout -Heart was, and little knowing that the lad was there cast -her in, screaming:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Stay there, useless one, until I am ready to roast you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The maiden thrust the green stone into the hands of -Stout Heart and at once they flew through the window and -out under the arch of the sky. As for the old witch, the -powder did its work and she began to swell so that she -could not pass out of any of the doors. But presently the -boy and girl, from a height at which they could see below -them the narrow valley and the witch house, saw that the -old hag was struggling to get out by way of the roof.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The two lost no time then. They flew swift and high. -But swift too was the witch. Her growing had finished -and out over the top of the house she burst, and seeing the -escaping pair, began to run in the direction they had taken.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So there was much speeding both in the air and on the -earth, and unlucky it was for the two that the green stone -allowed those who carried it to fly only in the daytime. All -this the maiden told Stout Heart as they flew. The old -witch well remembered that at night there was no power -in the flying stone and was gleeful in her wicked old heart -as she watched the sun and the lengthening shadows. So -she kept on with giant strides and leapings, and going at -such a rate that she was always very nigh under the two in -the air. No deer, no huanaco could have bounded lighter -over the ground than she did, and no ostrich could have -moved swifter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the sun began to drop in the western sky, and -he and she were looking at one another with concern as -they flew, the maiden bethought her of a plan, and scattering -some of the magic powder on the earth she rejoiced to -see that the leaves on which the powder fell turned into -rabbits. The sight of that the witch could not resist, and -she stopped a moment to catch some of the little animals -and swallow them, so a little time was won for the fliers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But the hungry old witch soon went on and regained -the time she had lost and was under them again, running as -fast as ever. So more powder was scattered, this time on -some thorn-bushes, which changed to foxes. Again the -old woman stopped to eat and the two gained a little. But -the sun was lower and they found themselves dropping ever -nearer to the earth, flying indeed but little higher than the -tree-tops, and as they saw, the old witch in her leaps lacked -but little of touching them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ahead of them was the lake in which Stout Heart had -been caught, the waters red as blood with the light of the -western sky, but the power of the stone was failing with the -waning day, and of the powder they had but a small handful -left. As for the witch, so near was she that they could -hear her breathing, could almost imagine that they felt her -terrible claws in their garments.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the bank of the lake the last handful of the magic -powder was cast, and they saw the grass turn to ants and the -stones to great turtles as they passed over the water, but so -low that their feet almost touched the surface of the lake. -The power of the stone was growing weak.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The old witch, seeing the turtles, stopped to swallow -them, shells and heads, and that gave the youth and maiden -time enough to reach the opposite shore, where the power -of the stone was quite exhausted as the sun touched the rim -of the earth. The gentle maiden clung to Stout Heart in -great fear then as they saw the old witch plunge into the -lake, for she could travel on water as fast as she could on -land. Indeed, the fearful old woman cut through the -waters so swiftly that a great wave leaped up on either side -of her, and it was clear that before the sun had gone she -would have her claws in the two friends.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But when she was in the middle of the lake the weight of -the turtles she had swallowed began to bear her down. In -vain she struggled, making a great uproar and lashing her -hands and feet so furiously that the water became hot and -a great steam rose up. Her force was spent and the turtles -were like great stones within her, so she sank beneath the -water, and was seen no more.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Great was the joy of the people when Stout Heart -brought the maiden to his home, for she became his wife -and was loved by all there as the fairest woman among them.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo156.jpg' alt='' id='illo156' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>THE WONDERFUL MIRROR</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/T.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='T'/>HIS is the tale of Suso who was the daughter of a -very rich man, a very kind-hearted one, too. Never -was beggar turned from his door, nor in the length -and breadth of his land was there hunger or want. And he -loved Suso no less than she loved him. She was very close -to his heart and all that could be done to make her happy he -did. As for her, there was no pleasure in her day if she was -not assured of his happiness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When her sister had left home to be married, Suso and -her father had gone about planning a great park which -Suso was to have for her own, a park of terraced, flowered -hills. And when it was finished, both birds and animals -came to live there and the air was full of song. So in that -place Suso played with her companions, and their hearts -were in tune with the beauty all about. It was a never-ending -pleasure to seek out new places in the great park, -cool nooks in which were little waterfalls whose silver -music mingled with the whispering of the leaves, or shaded -spots where were ponds of crystal water and fountains and -seats and bright green carpets of moss.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For a long time there was happiness, until, indeed, -her father married again, for her mother had died when -Suso was a small child. Then one day there was a cloud of -grief in the maiden’s heart, because on a silent, moonlit -night she had walked with her father and he had told her -that he was troubled with a wasting sickness and feared that -he had not long to live. Some enemy, he said, had cast a -spell on him, so that day by day he grew weaker and weaker -and weaker. Wise men and doctors had looked into the -matter, had sat solemnly and thought, had guessed and wondered, -but had agreed on one thing only—that something -was wrong. What that something was they did not know, -but they agreed that if the thing that was wrong could be -discovered and removed, all would go well again. Because -of what her father had told her, Suso was sad and often -wandered to a quiet place where she could tell her troubles -to the trees.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The stepmother was not at all fair in her ways and not -only disliked Suso, but was very mean and treacherous, hiding -her hatred from the father and petting Suso when he -was near, stroking her hair and saying pretty things. So -well did the wicked woman play her part that nothing could -have made the father believe other than that she loved -Suso quite as much as he did. For instance, on that moonlit -night when he had told his daughter of his trouble, seeing -her tears, for she had wept bitterly, he had said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But Suso, my dove, your mother will care for you -tenderly when I am dead, for she loves you dearly.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At that the girl stifled her sobs and dried her tears, lest -the father she loved so well should be wounded by her grief, -and seeing her calmed he had supposed that all was well -and that his words had soothed her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But see how it really was with Suso and her stepmother. -There was one day, not long after, when father and stepmother -and daughter were standing by the fountain, watching -the wavering shadows flying across the green, when the -man suddenly felt a clutching pain at his heart and was -forced to sit down for very weakness. When he felt a -little better and the first sharpness of the pain had gone, -Suso walked with him to the house, and when he was comfortably -seated and had a feather robe cast about him, he -bade her return to her stepmother. That she did, because -she was bid, although her wish would have been to sit at -his feet. Because of her unwillingness and her grief she -went softly, and not singing and dancing, as was her fashion. -And what was her terror when she saw and heard the -wicked woman talking to a great horned owl that sat in -the hollow of an old tree! So terrible that seemed, that -Suso could find nothing to say, but stood with clasped hands, -her heart a-flutter. Seeing Suso, the woman motioned to -the owl and the bird said no more, but sat listening, its head -on one side. Then the stepmother took Suso by the hand -and drew her into a place where they could be seen by the -father, but far enough away to be out of earshot. But the -father, seeing the woman and the maiden standing thus together, -was happy, thinking that his daughter had a friend. -It made him happier still to see the woman take Suso’s -arm and pull it gently about her waist. But he did not -hear what was said, for had he heard, it would have cut him -to the heart.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This is what the woman said, and her voice was like a -poison-dart as she whispered loud enough for the owl to -hear:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Suso, stand thus with your arm about my waist so that -your father may see us together. Thus he will think that I -love you.” Then she hissed in the girl’s ear: “But I hate -you, hate you, hate you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>And the owl lifted his head, blew a little and repeated -softly: “Hate you—Hoo!—Hoo!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From far off in the woods came the sound of an answering -owl like an echo: “Hate you—Hoo!—Hoo!” and it seemed -to Suso that all the world hated her for no cause, for the -screeching parrots, too, repeated the cry. As for the sweet -feathered things that she loved, they had all fled from that -place.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Soon the stepmother spoke again and the owl dropped -to a lower branch the better to hear. “Suso,” said the -woman, “your father cannot live much longer. The spell -is upon him and day by day he nears his death. Because -of that I am glad, for when he dies, all this land, the house, -and all its riches, must be mine.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that vicious speech Suso was well nigh faint -with fear and horror and would have sped to her father to -warn him. But the woman caught her by the wrist, twisting -it painfully, and pinched the soft place on her arm with -her other hand, and stooping again so that it seemed to the -watching father that she kissed Suso, she said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But see to it that you say no word, for the moment that -you say anything but good of me, that moment your father -will fall dead.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So what was Suso to do?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Thus it was that Suso crept to quiet places and told her -tale to the whispering leaves and to the evening breeze, -and thus it was that in the midst of all that beauty of golden -sunlight and silver-glinted waters and flower-twined forest -she could not but be sad. For there were tears in her heart, -and everything that her father did for her was as nothing -and like a crumbling tower.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But she had told the trees (and trees bend their tops -though they are foot-fast, and leaves, too, whisper one to -another), so that the tale went abroad, though of this, Suso -knew nothing.</p> - -<h3>II</h3> - -<p class='pindent'>Now while all this was going on there lived in the hills -far off a youth, and his name was Huathia. Brown-haired -he was and bright-eyed too, with clear skin and strong arms, -and all who knew him said that he was a good lad and -honest.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He was a herder of goats and llamas, and one day, as he -was out in the vega with his flock, he chanced to see a falcon -wheeling high in the air, carrying something in its beak that -sent the rays of the sun flashing far, like silver light. Then -the bird dipped with the thing it was carrying, looking like -a glittering falling star, and Huathia for a moment lost -sight of the bird as it dropped behind a bush. But it soon -rose and took to flight, this time without the shining thing. -So Huathia went to the place where the falcon had dropped, -and there at the bottom of a little stream he saw a bright -round piece of silver. The lad rescued it and looked at it -with astonishment as it lay in his hand, a polished and -smooth disc it was, that reflected his face as clearly as a -mirror. So he kept it, wrapping it in a leaf, and took it -that night to the place where the lad lived with another -herdsman, a very wise and good man who knew many -strange things, and he told the youth that it was the wonderful -mirror of one called Paracaca, long since dead. He said -that whoever looked in it saw his own face as others saw it, -but the owner of the mirror saw something else, “for,” -added he, “with it you may see the hidden spirit of other -people, seeing through the mask they wear. And if a man -has the face of a man but the heart of a fox then certainly -while such a man beholds his own face, you shall see the -other creature in him.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that, the youth Huathia was much amazed at the -magic of the thing and, holding it so that the face of his -herder friend was shown in the mirror, saw, not the rough -bearded face of the man alone, all knotted like a tree-trunk, -but a face that was full of kindness and gentleness, at which -he was glad.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So he placed the wonderful mirror in his bag and carried -it about with him. The next day, while he was leaning -against the trunk of a tree and playing on his flute, he -seemed to hear a whispering, and putting his reed away he -listened intently. Still and small, still and small were the -voices that he heard, as tree-head bent to tree-head and leaf -murmured to leaf, but soon he caught the rumour that ran, -and learned the tale that in the country of the rich man there -was a creature timorous and frail, whose gentle heart -was heavy with sorrow, and that an unknown evil brooded -dark.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No time lost he then, seeing that there was something of -worth that he could possibly do, but gave the care of the -goats and llamas to his friend, took his arrows and bow, his -bag with a little food and the wonderful mirror, and after -bidding his friend good-bye set off for the land of the rich -man. What was strange was that while all had been silent -in the soft green woods that morning, except for the sound -of his flute, no sooner had he started on his way than a gay -chorus came from the bright birds and the world was full -of mirth. So, well content, he went on his way, a ragged -herdsman, but light of heart and strong of limb and brave.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Into the land of the rich man he went and came in time -to a place where sat the maiden under a tree, doves at her -feet and glittering humming-birds about her head. When -Suso saw the youth her heart leaped for joy, for she knew -him for a kind lad, though never before had she set eyes on -him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Are you a beggar and poor?” she asked. “For here -there is plenty for all.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am no beggar,” he answered, “and for myself I am -well content with what I have. But it has been whispered -about the world and I have heard the tale, that there is a -great sorrow upon you, and that some unknown evil is destroying -the beauty and the bliss of this place, so I have -come to do what is to be done.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At that Suso said no more but rose up and took Huathia -by the hand and led him to her father. It was a day on -which the good man was very weak, but seeing that his -daughter was pleased with her new companion he ordered -his servants to spread a table under the trees, and the three -of them had a feast of goat’s milk and fruit, and cassava -bread, though the father could eat but little. Then Huathia -took his flute and played sweet music until the world seemed -full of peace, and gripping grief had vanished. Suso, too, -sang sweetly, so that for a moment the father thought that -the shadow that was upon him was but a dream and might -pass.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They talked long and long, the three of them, and -Huathia learned much about the rich man’s failing strength, -whereupon it came to him somehow, that by means of his -wonderful mirror he might perchance discover what evil -thing was about that place. To him the rich man said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If with this mirror you can find the hidden evil thing -and can restore my strength again, then there is nothing too -great that I own which may not be yours for the asking.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There is but one thing I want,” said Huathia. “For I -love Suso the gentle and would marry her.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The rich man thought long after this speech, stroking the -hair of Suso who sat at his knee, for it had not entered into -his mind that his daughter might be the gift which the -youth demanded as his price. But looking at the maiden -he saw that her eyes were cast down, though for a moment -they had looked up swiftly as Huathia spoke. Then, too, -it was certain that since the youth had been there, the song -of the birds was louder in the thicket and the green of the -trees brighter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So the father said thoughtfully: “If you find the cause of -the trouble that is upon me and relieve it so that I am healed -again, then you may have my daughter for your wife, -though you must promise me that you will stay in this -place.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That, Huathia promised readily enough, and stooped to -Suso and kissed her, and having done so, went away to the -dark pool in the woods to sleep, at the very moment the -stepmother came out of the house to join her husband and -his daughter.</p> - -<h3>III</h3> - -<p class='pindent'>As it happened that night, there was a thin new moon, -and the youth slept but little because of the croaking noise -made by the frogs. Presently, full awake, he sat up, and -it seemed to him that the air was full of noise, not only of -frogs but of the hooting of owls and the whirring of bats, -and looking he saw the strange sight of a great white toad -with two heads, and presently about that fearful thing other -things gathered. From rock and hole came unclean creatures, -abominable serpents and centipedes and great gray -spiders, and all these gathered in a circle, the two-headed -toad in the centre. With wide-open eyes Huathia watched, -although the sight of so much that was noisome came near -to benumbing and stupefying him, and incomplete shapes -seemed to be looking at him with evil eyes from the black -depth of the forest.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Soon the owl began to mourn and the song fell into words -and the youth heard this:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Who knows where hides our queen? Hoo! Hoo!”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>And first one creature and then another answered:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“The toad, our queen, lies hid unsought</p> -<p class='line0'>Beneath the stone that men have wrought.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>And so it went on, a mad and horrible concert, with bat -and owl and great ghost-moth whirling about on silent -wings, until sickened of it all Huathia rose up and clapping -his hands to his ears fled from the place. And when he -had gained a quiet and lonely spot he sat down, but in his -ears rang what he had heard:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“The toad, our queen, lies hid unsought</p> -<p class='line0'>Beneath the stone that men have wrought.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>So he wondered and wondered where could be the stone -that men had wrought, and the story that men had told of -a great temple on the mountains came to him. But that -place seemed too far away.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When it was full day the youth went to the house, and in -time the rich man came forth and greeted him. Then came -the stepmother, who fixed her large dark eyes on Huathia, -not looking at him straight, but sideways. Suso came -shortly afterward and the youth could not take his eyes -from her. It seemed to him that she was the most beautiful -of living things as she sat on her stool by the side of her -father, her hair touched by the golden light so that it seemed -to be as full of ripples as a sun-kissed brook. So there was -pleasant talk while they ate, and, after, a drinking-in of soft -music as Huathia played on his flute. Suso sang when -Huathia had finished, and though her song had a touch of -sadness in it, it seemed to her pleased father that all on -earth that was soft and shapely and fair was gathered there -in that garden, until catching the eye of his wife he was reminded -that his life was flowing away, and the old grief -came upon him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Somehow talk fell upon Huathia and his mirror and the -strange way in which he had found it, and he took it from -his bag. As he looked in it, Suso came and stood behind -him, so that he saw the reflection of her face and the true -picture of herself, and there was a gentleness there, the -gentleness of the dove and the purity of the flower. The -rich man came, too, looking over Huathia’s shoulder and -saw his own reflection. But what the youth saw was a face -that denoted great bravery and kindness. Seeing all this -the stepmother stretched her hand across the table and took -the mirror, gazing at the picture of her own dark beauty. -Then Huathia stepped to her side and looked into the disc. -He saw, not the dark eyes and night-black hair that she -saw, not the face of a proud woman, but the face of a toad, -and when she held the polished silver further off, the better -to see, the toad-face changed, so that he saw a double-headed -toad. But of that she knew nothing and did not even guess -that he knew her for a vile witch and no true woman. And -as she continued to gaze and her thoughts wandered, so did -new things come into the picture that Huathia saw, and he -beheld about her neck two writhing white snakes, a sight so -horrible that he could scarcely hold his countenance or prevent -himself from calling out. Having seen to her content, -the woman rose from her stool and left the room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The rich man, already tired, for his night’s sleep did not -revive him, stood up and beckoned to the youth to give him -an arm. Suso supported him on the other side and so they -walked slowly to a seat beneath a great flowering bush near -the house. Having found his seat and being wrapped in -his feather mantle by Suso, he asked the youth to play the -flute again. Huathia was ready and willing, but somehow -the memory of the two-headed toad and the two white snakes -made him nervous, and when he put his flute to his lips no -sweet sounds came, but instead rude noises like the hissing -of snakes and the croaking of frogs and the screeching of -parrots. Even Suso stopped her ears and her father bade -the youth cease his noise.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Are you of those who make my last days the wearier -with your noises?” he asked sorrowfully. Then he added: -“For many nights I have dreamed of toads with two heads -and of snakes that hung over me, and now you come with -your flute and the noises that such evil things make. I had -expected better of you, Huathia, seeing that I have treated -you as a son.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Huathia earnestly assured him that he had no wish to -do other than to make music, and he ended by saying: -“There is, I am sure, some enchantment in this place, for -though the sun is warm I feel a chill, as if some clammy -thing enfolded me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He shivered as he spoke, though he was a lad whose blood -ran warm; not afraid, not given to idle fancies. Of a sudden -his eyes fell upon a large grindstone that lay near by. -It was a stone so great that two men could hardly make -shift to raise it, and so it had been left there for years and -grasses had grown about it. But when Huathia saw it, -there leaped into his mind the song that he had heard:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“The toad, our queen, lies hid unsought</p> -<p class='line0'>Beneath the stone that men have wrought.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>It had meant little in the night, but in a flash he saw that -the grindstone was a stone wrought by men. So fitting an -arrow to his bow he handed the weapon to Suso, telling her -to shoot whatever evil thing was discovered when he lifted -the stone. With a great effort he raised the stone suddenly, -heavy though it was, lifting it high above his head, and -there, in a hollow place where the stone had been, sat a -large, white, double-headed toad.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Shoot, Suso, shoot!” commanded the father. “Let not -that evil thing escape. It is the creature that torments me -at night.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Swift flew the arrow and it pierced the body of the toad. -At the same moment there fell from the roof of the house -two monstrous white serpents where they had lain hidden. -Like lightning Huathia, having seized the bow, sent two -arrows flying, and each serpent was cut into halves. In -less than three moments three evil things died, and it was -like the sun coming from a cloud-veil, the way in which -joy came to that place. The weakness of the father fell -from him like a cloak. The bodies of the toad and the -snakes withered and shrivelled, and as a light breeze sprang -up, what was left of them was blown away as dust. There -were soft stirrings in the thicket and the whole world burst -into song. So both father and daughter knew then that the -witcheries were gone and the evil creatures vanished for -ever, and that all the trouble that had been upon that place -came from the wicked stepmother.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So youth and maiden were married, and the father soon -regained his health and strength, and in all the world there -were no happier people than they.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo176.jpg' alt='' id='illo176' style='width:80%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo170.jpg' alt='' id='illo170' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>THE TALE OF THE LAZY PEOPLE</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/I.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='I'/>N Colombia, it seems, there were always monkeys, -or if not always, at least as far as the memory of man -goes. An old historian named Oviedo noted that and -wrote: “When the Christians make an expedition to the interior -and have to pass by woods, they ought to cover themselves -well with their bucklers . . . for the monkeys -throw down nuts and branches at them. . . . I knew -one, a servant. This man threw a stone at a monkey, who -caught it and returned it with such force that it knocked -out four or five of Francisco’s teeth, and I know this to be -true for I often saw the said Francisco, always without his -teeth.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now one day a man told me the tale of the monkeys, and -he talked and talked as he smoked, until the stars came out -and shone clear and steady and the air was heavy with perfume, -and owls and bats floated strangely, as they will do, -and when he had finished he still talked, taking up forgotten -ends of his tale and winding in and about, making a long -affair of a short matter. But then he had nothing else to -do but to talk and was mighty pleased, it seemed, to have -someone to listen to him. Then, when we should have been -sleeping, he went on talking, picking out a piece of the tale -here and another piece there, and explaining until I was -well nigh like to get the story tangled myself. But here -is the meat of it:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Long, long ago there were no monkeys, and the trees -were so full of fruit, and the vines of grapes, that the people -became lazy, and at last did little but eat and sleep, being -too idle to carry away the rinds and skins of the fruit that -they lived on, and certainly too lazy to clean their thatched -houses.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was very pleasant at first, but soon not so pleasant, for -winged things that bit and stung came in thousands to feed -on the things thrown aside, and they, too, grew lazy, finding -so much to eat ready at hand, and when people tried to -brush them away there was a loud and angry buzz and much -irritated stinging, so that soon every one was wonder-struck, -not knowing exactly what to do. For a time it seemed -easier to move the little village to a new spot and to build -new houses, for the dwellings were light affairs and in a day -or less a good house could be built. But then they lived by -a lake from which the water for drinking was taken, and -as it was but a little body of water, it was not long before -the people had built right round the still pool and so were -back again at the starting place. As for the stinging flies, -they were soon worse than the mosquitoes, while a great -wasp with pink head and legs and bands of black and gold -on its body, though very pretty to see, was worst of all. So -it was no easy matter to know what to do, and there was -much talk and much argument, and all that the people -agreed on was that something had to be done, and that, very -soon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One day there came to the village a queer and rather faded -kind of man, ragged and tattered and torn as though he had -scrambled for miles through the thorn-bush forest. He -had rough yellow hair, and queer wrinkles at the corners -of his eyes which made him look as if he were smiling. It -was late in the afternoon when he came and the people were -taking their rest after the noon meal, so no one took much -notice of him although he went here and there, looking at -things, and so walked round the lake. But the curiosity of -everyone was excited when he was seen to make a basket, -which he did quickly, and then commence to gather up the -fruit skins and rinds in one place. Now and then some -one or other raised himself in his hammock, with a mind -to talk to him, but it seemed almost too much trouble, -and when some great blue-winged butterfly fluttered past or -some golden-throated humming-bird flashed in the sunlight, -their eyes wandered away from the old man and they forgot -him again. So the sunlight died and the forest was a -velvet blackness and everyone slept, though the old man -still worked on, and the next morning when the people -awoke he was still working diligently, though he had but -a small place cleared after all.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The very thought that any one would work all night -made the head man shiver with a kind of excitement, yet he -was very curious to know why the stranger went to so much -trouble, seeing that he neither lived there nor was of the -lake men. At the same time it made his spirit droop to -think that if the place was to be cleared up, he and everyone -else had a mountain of work in sight. So Tera, the -head man, called to Cuco, who was his servant, telling him -to bring the stranger to him, and Cuco, who was very respectful, -said that he would attend to it. Then Cuco did -his part by calling Yana and delivering the message to him. -And Yana in turn told his servant, Mata, who told his servant, -Pera, who told his servant, Racas, who told a boy, so -that at last the message reached the old man. Then back -went the old man, handed by the boy to Racas, by Racas to -Pera, by Pera to Mata, by Mata to Yana, and by Yana to -Cuco, so that at last he stood before Tera, the head man, and -the others, being curious to know what was afoot, gathered -about.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What is your name, from where do you come, and what -do you want?” asked Tera, putting his three questions at -once, to save trouble. Then the head man looked at those -about him with a little frown, as much as to say, “Note how -wisely I act,” and each man who had heard, seeing that the -head man looked his way, nodded at his neighbour, as -though calling attention to the wisdom of the head man, so -all went very well. But the little old man stood there very -simply, making no fuss at all and quite unimpressed with -the greatness of the great man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I want to work,” he answered. “I want to be told what -you want done and to see that it is done.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To be sure, the language that he spoke was one new to -those who listened, but somehow they seemed to understand. -But the thing that he said they found truly astonishing and -could hardly believe their ears. But the head man, though -as astonished as any one there, quickly regained his composure -and asked this question:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What is your trade?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have no trade,” said the old man. “But I get things -done.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What kind of things?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All kinds of things.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you mean big things, like house-building and all -that?” asked the head man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes. And little things too, which are really big things -when you come to consider,” said the old man, but that -seemed an odd if not a silly thing to say, the head man -thought.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Little things left undone soon become big things,” explained -the old man, and waved his hand in the direction of -a heap of fruit skins and husks near by.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes. Yes. But you must not preach to us, you know,” -said Tera a little testily. “Tell me the names of the trades -you have.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So the little old man began to tell, naming big things and -very little things, things important and things not important -at all, and having finished, asked very politely whether any -one there had anything to be done. As for pay he said that -he wanted none at all and would take none, and he said that -because some of those gathered about him began offering -him things.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For instance, Pera said: “If you work for me, I will let -you have one fish out of every ten that you catch, for I am -a fisherman.” And Racas pushed him aside, saying: “But -I will do better, for I am supposed to be fruit gatherer and -will give you two things for every ten you gather.” And -so it went, each bidding higher than his neighbour, until it -came to the turn of the man whose duty it was to gather the -rinds and fruit skins. He said, “I will let you have, not -one out of ten, nor two out of ten, nor five out of ten that -you gather, but ten out of ten, if you will work for me.” -At that the old man said quite positively that he would -take no pay at all.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No more was said then and the little old man turned away -without as much as bowing to the head man, seeing which -the head man waved his hand and said: “You may go, and so -that you will lose no time, you need not bow to me.” And -all the rest gathered there said very hastily: “Nor need you -bow to me, either.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The old man took small notice of any one, but went away -singing, for he had a gay, light-hearted disposition, and -having reached the place he had cleared, he took flat pieces -of wood and began cutting out figures like little men, and -each figure had a kind of handle that looked like a long tail. -Nor did he cease whittling until he had made at least twenty -wooden figures for each man in the village. Being finished -he stood up to stretch his legs and straighten his back, and -when the people asked him what the little figures were for, -he shrugged his shoulders but spoke never a word. Then -he lifted the figures that he had made, one by one, and set -them upright in the sand until there was a long row of them, -and took his place in front of them, like a general before -his army. It was beautiful to look at, for one figure was as -like another as one pin is like another, and for a moment -even the old man stood admiring the line. After a moment -he waved his hand in a peculiar way, spoke some magic -word, and waved his hand again, at which each of the figures -came to life and nodded its head, seeing which all the -people laughed and clapped their hands. The ragged man -bade them make no noise, but watch.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Since you do not like to work,” he said, “I have made -twenty figures for each of you, and they will work for you -without pay, doing what you require them to do; only observe -this, you must not give any figure more than one particular -job. And now let each man or woman clap his hands -three times, then call out the name of the thing to be done.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When he had said this, the figures started running, twenty -gathering in a circle about each man there, bowing from -the hips and straightening themselves again, so that their -tails of wood went up and down like pump-handles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now see,” said the ragged man, “you have things to -work for you, and as I call out, the figures will stand forth, -each ready to do his task.” And he began calling, thus:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Armadillo hunters, stand forth!” and a hundred and -more active figures ran together like soldiers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So he named others in order as:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Bread makers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cassava gatherers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Despolvadores, who would gather up dust.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Esquiladors, who would shear the goats.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Farsante men, whose work was to amuse tired men.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Guardas, to keep order about the place.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Horneros, or bakers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Industriosos, who were to do odd jobs everywhere.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Jumentos, whose work it was to carry burdens.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Labradores, to do heavy work and clear away garbage.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Moledores, to grind the corn.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Narradores, who told stories, related gossip and so on.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Olleros, or pot makers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Pocilga figures, to attend to the pigs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Queseros, to make cheese from goat’s milk.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Rumbosos, or proud-looking things to walk in parades.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Servidores, or food carriers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Trotadores, to run errands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Vaqueros, to attend to the cows.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So everyone was well pleased and each one had his twenty -figures to do all that needed to be done, and all that day -there was a great scraping and cleaning and carrying and -currying and hurrying and scurrying. Silently the little -figures worked, never stopping, never tiring, never getting -in one another’s way, and all that the living people had to -do was to rest and watch the men of wood, and keep their -brains free for higher things. For it must be remembered -that before the old man came there with his wonderful gift, -the people had complained that there was so much to be -done that they had no time to write poems or to make songs -or to create music, and that with the daily tasks abolished -their brains would be more active.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Not two days had passed before the children of the place -complained that they did not have a chance and that they -had so much to do, what with hunting for things lost, looking -after their small brothers and sisters, keeping things in -order, trying to remember things they were told, cleaning -things, and a dozen other tasks, that they really had no time -to play, much less to study. So they went in a body to the -old man and asked him to give each child twenty figures to -do odd things. There was a great deal of fire and expression -in his eyes when he made answer that if the children -really needed help he would lose no time in providing it. -But the young people were quite positive that they were -overworked, and the long and short of it was that the old -man whittled out many, many more figures, and in another -twenty-four hours each and every boy and girl had his own:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Abaniquero, or fan maker, so that none had to pluck a -palm leaf.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Baliquero figure, to carry letters and messages.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cabrero, to look after the goats.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Desalumbrado, to hunt for things in the dark.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Enseñador, or private teacher, who was never to scold.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Florista, to save them the trouble of gathering flowers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Guasón figure, to amuse them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hojaldarista, whose work it was to make cakes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Juego figure, to arrange games.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Keeper of things.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Lector, to read and tell stories.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mimo, to act as clown.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Niñera, to look after younger children.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Obediencia figure, to make others obey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Postor, to buy things for them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Quitar figures, to take things away when children tired.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Recordación figures, or rememberers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Solfeadors, to sing to them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tortada men, to make pies.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Volantes, as servants.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So things seemed to be going very well, and before a -month had passed in all that place there was not a thing out -of order, soiled, broken, bent, lost, misplaced, undone, unclean, -or disorderly. Neither man nor woman nor child -had to worry; dinners were always prepared, fruits gathered, -beds made, houses in perfect order, and all was spick -and span. All that the grown-up people had to do was to -look on, and no one was proud of the order in his house -because every other house in the place was as orderly. As -for the children, they had nothing at all to do but to eat, -drink, rest, and sleep. Then, presently, more figures were -called for as this one or that wanted a larger house, a finer -garden, or grander clothes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But as the wooden figures became more numerous and as -no figure could do more than one task, the ragged man had -to make figures for the figures and servants for the servants, -for as things went on, there had to be more fruit gatherers, -more water carriers, more scavengers, more cooks, because -the figures had to eat and drink. Thus it came to pass that -before long, instead of their being twenty figures for each -man, there were sixty or seventy, with new ones coming -from the old man’s knife every day. Soon the lively manikins -were everywhere, inside houses as well as outside, -thick as flies in summer and certainly a great deal more -persistent, for there could be no closing of doors against the -manikins. Indeed, had anything like that been attempted -there would have been a great cry for special door-openers. -So, many houses were quite cluttered with wooden men, -those who were on duty rushing about until it made the -head swim to look at them, and those who were resting or -sleeping, for soon they learned to rest and to sleep, lying -about the floors, piled up in corners, or hanging to rafters -by their tails. All that increase in help had made for the -production of a thousand or more guardas, whose task it -was to keep order, and they were everywhere, alert and -watchful and officious, and the real people had to step -about very gingerly sometimes, to avoid treading on them -and annoying them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At last there came a day when the people began to grow -a little tired of doing nothing, and they told one another that -a little help was a very good thing, but help in excess, too -much of a good thing altogether. So there was a meeting -and much talk and the manikin narradors, whose duty it -was to carry gossip and the news, were very busy, rushing -from here to there with their scraps of information.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is very clear that something must be done,” said -Tera, the head man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But everything <span class='it'>is</span> being done,” answered the little old -man. “If <span class='it'>everything</span> is done, something <span class='it'>must</span> be done.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I did not mean that,” said Tera, who seemed a little -testy. “I meant to say that these wooden men must be kept -in their places.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But they <span class='it'>are</span> in their places,” replied the old man. -“Their place is everywhere because they do everything, so -they are in their places.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You see, the days are so very long, so very dull,” said -the man who wished to have time that he might become a -poet. “At the shut of day we are not weary.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We do not want to be petted,” said another.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The trouble is,” sighed a fat man, “you can’t be happy -when everything is done for you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And we don’t want to be nobodies,” shouted another.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Another said very mournfully: “It seems to me that -when these wooden things do things with our things, then -the things that they do and make and care for are not our -things.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Too many ‘things’ in that speech,” said the fat man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, there are too many things,” answered the other. -“Look at me. I used to be gardener and now I’m nothing. -When my garden is dug and planted and tended and watered -and the very flowers plucked by these wooden things, and -when other wooden things pick up the leaves and pull the -weeds and do everything, then my garden does not seem to -be mine.” He added after awhile: “I hope you know what -I mean, because it is not very clear to me, yet it is so. I -remember——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At that the little old man put up his hand and said: “But -that is against the contract. You must not try to remember, -really you must not, because there are manikins to do all -the remembering, if you please.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, but I think——” began the man, when he was -again interrupted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Please do not think,” said the little old man. “We -have things to do the thinking, if you please.” He thought -for a moment, his bent forefinger on his lips, then he said: -“I’ll see what can be done. It is clear that you are not -satisfied, although you have everything that you asked for -and certainly all the time that you want.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let us do something,” murmured Tera.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m afraid there is nothing that you can do,” said the -little old man, “because, as you see, everything is done, and -when everything is done it is quite clear that something -cannot be left to be done. The only thing that is clear is -that there is nothing to be done.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At that the meeting broke up and each went to his own -hammock to think things over, and soon the general cry -was: “We must have elbow room.” And hearing that, the -little old man went to work and whittled more figures of -wood, a whole army of them, ten for each living man, -woman, and child, and in voices that creaked like wooden -machinery they marched hither and thither, crying: “Elbow -room. Elbow room!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Soon there was confusion. It was manikin against manikin -for a time, the Elbow-room-ers thrusting and pushing -the other working manikins, some going about their -work with frantic haste, others interfering with them, -clutching at them and at the things they carried, a tangled -knot of them sometimes staggering, to go down with a -crash. Soon in every house was a jangling tumult, manikins -and men running about in houses and dashing out into -the open spaces outside; the noise of slamming doors and -breaking pots; the clamour of animals. Above all could be -heard everywhere cries of “We want elbow room! We -want elbow room!” Soon men were running away from -the houses with those strange swift manikins hanging to -them sometimes beating them, while other manikins -threw things out of the doors and through windows, food -and household things. And excited children fled too, while -their manikins ran at their sides, some chattering, some -acting the clown as was their duty, some telling stories as -they ran, while other strange little figures of wood ran -bearing heavy burdens. It was all a dreadful mix-up with -no one knowing what to do, no one knowing where to go, -and everywhere the manikins who were guardas, or order -keepers, ran about, tripping people and manikins alike in -the effort to stop the rush. But when the day was near its -end there were no people in the houses and the hammocks -swung idly, for all the men and women and children, even -the white-haired grandfathers and grandmothers, had fled -to the further side of the lake, where they could have elbow -room, leaving the houses and all that was in them to the -manikins.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The next day, the people plucked their fruit for themselves -and it seemed as though fruit was never sweeter. -The water that they carried from the lake tasted better and -cooler than water had for many a long day, and when night -came they were happily tired and slept well, without any -manikin to swing their hammocks and sing to them. And -in the morning they woke early to discover the pink and -gold of the sunrise most wonderful to see, and there was -music in the sound of the wind among the grasses. So as -the day passed they were both amazed and astonished at the -wonderful and beautiful things that they had almost forgotten, -the sight of butterflies fluttering from flower to -flower, the shadows chasing across the hills, the richness of -the green earth and the blueness of the sky, the gold of sunlight -on the leaves, the rippling water and the bending trees; -indeed the memory of the manikin days was like a fearful -nightmare. Very light-hearted then they grew and the -world was full of the music of their laughter and song, and -briskly they worked, enjoying it all, building new houses -and making things to put in them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Meanwhile in the village things had gone queerly. For -one thing the Elbow-room-ers kept up their crowding and -pushing, so that the manikins trying to work at their old -tasks (and there were many who went on just as before) were -sadly hindered. There were other figures of wood with -nothing to do, since the people they served were gone, and -these fell to quarrelling among themselves and grew mischievous. -For instance, the pot makers and the pot cleaners -fell out, and the pot cleaners started to break the pots -so that the pot makers would have more work to do. That -meant that the clay gatherers and the clay diggers had to -work harder, then because they worked harder, though to -be sure all their work meant nothing and was little more -than idle bustle, they grew hungrier and wanted more to -eat. Because of all that the fruit gatherers had more to do -and the water carriers had to work harder and the cassava -bread makers had to bake as they had never baked before. -That brought the fire builders into it, and of course the wood -gatherers also, for they too had to work harder and to eat -more, so still more work came on the food bringers. And -all the time the Elbow-room-ers rushed about, always in -groups of ten, driving and commanding, rushing on workers -and sweeping them aside. So everywhere were little -figures hurrying one after the other, going to and fro, busy -about nothing, quarrelling about nothing, fighting about -nothing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The trouble came when the Elbow-room-ers interfered -with the dogs and the cats, the goats and the hens, pushing -and hustling them. For the animals, disliking all the disorder -and clatter, fell upon the manikins, workers and -idlers alike. Seeing that, the household utensils took a -hand and the very pots and kettles ran or rolled or fell, -spilling hot water over the wooden things with pump-handle -tails. The very embers from the fires leaped into -the fray. All the while from the metates in which the corn -had been ground came a low growling, and the growling -formed itself into words:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>Day by day you tortured us—</p> -<p class='line0'>Grind, grind, grind.</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -</div> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>Holi! Holi!</p> -<p class='line0'>Huqui! Huqui!</p> -<p class='line0'>Grind, grind, grind.</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -</div> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>Bring to us the torturers—</p> -<p class='line0'>Grind, grind, grind.</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -</div> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>Let them feel our power now—</p> -<p class='line0'>Grind. <span class='it'>Grind.</span> <span class='gesp'>GRIND!</span></p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>So the metates turned and turned, going round and round -without hands, and presently an Elbow-room-er that was -struggling with a corn-grinder stumbled, and both fell between -the grinding stones and in a moment were crushed -to powder. In a flash house utensils and animals learned -the new trick, and in every house manikins were pushed -into the grinding stones. Then sparks began to fly and -roofs to catch on fire and manikins bolted here and there -in confusion, sometimes jamming in doorways, there were -so many and all in such disorder. Then came dazzling, -flickering lightning and a great rain, so that for very safety -the manikins fled to the forest and climbed the trees. And -there they have lived ever since, for they grew hair and -became monkeys. But the remembrance of all that passed -stayed with them, and in their hearts to this very day is no -love for man, and for that very reason when a Christian -passes through a forest he must look well to himself, lest -the manikins in revenge try to hurt him by casting nuts -and branches at his head.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo188.jpg' alt='' id='illo188' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>RAIRU AND THE STAR MAIDEN</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/P.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='P'/>ERHAPS my friend Pedro of Brazil told me the -story of Rairu and the Star Maiden for much the -same reason that hungry men fall to talk of meals -that they have eaten. When I say hungry men I do not -mean men with an appetite, but men who have long been -on the verge of starvation—shipwrecked sailors, men lost -in the desert, and such like. The truth is that what the -heart hungers for, the tongue talks of. So my friend Pedro -told me many tales of his own warm land where spice-laden -breezes blow gently soft, and at the time he told me -his tales we two were in the midst of the snows of Tierra del -Fuego, when the winds shrieked like a thousand demons -and the frost-giant had bound river and lake.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We were gold digging on the upper Santa Maria and -there came without warning a fierce blizzard, the snow -falling for the best part of two days and two nights, and -in the morning we could not move from our tent, though we -had pitched it in a quiet nook of the hills. We had little -to eat, nothing to read, and no light but the fire-glow, and -the world seemed to narrow about us, the mountains to -close in and the leaden sky to drop. And all the while -Pedro talked of his gentler land, telling me the glory of hills -all purple and green, of sunlit waters and flower-crowned -children. So, soon we forgot the black south wind and the -destroying cold. Pedro half forgot, I think, that hope -which led him to the Far South; it was a hope long cherished, -that he might find gold enough to enable him to live -in quiet in his own land among the books that he loved.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>However, you may think this wearisome talk, judging it -better that I tell the tale told by Pedro. But I have felt -it best to set it down as I have, because Pedro never saw -his own land again; so the writing of the story is in some -measure done in affection for my friend. As soon as the -snow ceased to fall he went away on foot, our horses having -wandered before the storm, and his intention was to win -his way to a shack some eight miles away where he might -get some food which we needed sorely enough. I in the -meantime, we agreed, would take my rifle and try to shoot -a huanaco or some other thing. But another storm came -on and it was not until five days had passed in search that I -found Pedro. And he was frozen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As I write I see the scene again—the snow-swept hills, -the gray sky, the white-laden bushes, and Pedro. I made -what haste I could to bury him in the ice-bound earth and -put up a rough cross to mark the place, and I had barely -finished when a white storm swept up and hid both mound -and cross.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Here is the tale he told, one of many, and he said that he -had heard it often and often when he was a child.</p> - -<h3><span class='it'>The Tale</span></h3> - -<p class='pindent'>Of all things, nothing pleased Rairu more than to watch -the ways of the living things of the forest, to bend over a -flower and drink in its beauty, to lie by the side of a leaf-hidden -pool and follow some shaft of sunshine as it shot to -the depth, or to stand breathless when a wild bird broke into -song. His father, very bitter against what he deemed idleness, -often said harsh things, telling Rairu that he would do -well to attend to matters more enduring. Still, Rairu was -what he was. Before the sunlight came over the world he -would seek the forest deeps and there, hidden in green -thickets, would lose himself in the music of the birds. And -as time passed and Rairu grew into young manhood another -joy came to him, and the glory of the star-sprinkled -sky filled him with wonder. Night after night he would -wait in a favourite place by a little cascade, a place bare of -trees, eagerly impatient for the soft light of the first star -in the violet sky.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Watching thus Rairu found a thought rise in his mind, a -thought that the world would be well only when that order -was among men which was in the skies. More, it seemed to -him that of all living creatures that walked the earth man -was the most destructive, the most wasteful, and the most -untrustful. Then one night as he lay at the foot of a palm -tree, his heart was full of gladness because of the song of a -night-bird, and it came to him somehow to believe that the -stars sang to the bird as the bird sang to the stars, so he -looked up to find, if possible, which star heard that bird, and -he saw one that hung low, one far more beautiful than her -fellows. Thereafter, when the sky grew soft and dark, his -eyes sought the Silver One and he waited until the night-bird -sang. Like jewels, like living sparks of sound, the -music went up, and like a maiden the Silver One listened. -When the star dropped in the west and the song-bird ceased, -then Rairu was sad and alone, alone as one in a seagirt land -whom none may visit.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One day, it was a day of cloud-flecked sky and humming -life, Rairu met an old man, thin-haired and bearded, and the -stranger hailed him, calling him by name. After some -talk, much of which seemed riddlesome to the lad, the old -man asked him what of all things, had he his wish, would -he choose.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After thinking awhile, Rairu said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If the Silver One would come from her place in the sky -and go with me so that I might admire her beauty both day -and night, I would be the happiest man on earth.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that, the old man bade Rairu go to sleep that -night on a high hill which was not far away. “And,” said -he, “if it be that you desire the Silver One for her beauty -alone and not that others may envy you in your possession, -then it may be that your wish shall be granted.” No more -he said, but walked away, singing to himself softly as he -went.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All that day Rairu spent in the forest, eager for the night -and the stars, and in the noonday heat sat in the shade of -the trees with eyes fast closed, trying to make a song in -which he might tell the world of the Silver One and her -great beauty, for it vexed him that so few looked to her; -but no words came to him to satisfy. Only this, which he -thought but a poor thing:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>When men sorrow and rage,</p> -<p class='line0'>When the hearts of men grieve,</p> -<p class='line0'>When arrows of sharp words wound,</p> -<p class='line0'>When there is none to pity pain,</p> -<p class='line0'>In the order of heaven there is sweet delight.</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -</div> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>In the night hushed and still,</p> -<p class='line0'>When is neither weeping nor laughter,</p> -<p class='line0'>In the night-time between two empty days,</p> -<p class='line0'>The Silver One is riding in the sky</p> -<p class='line0'>Singing hand in hand with her sister stars,</p> -<p class='line0'>Singing, because the life of men is an empty dream.</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>When darkness was about to spread he went up the rocky -path to the hilltop, as the old man had bidden him, and lay -there looking at the opal fires in the western sky, watching -the change to sea-green and gold, from orange to pink, and -waiting, waiting until the stars should come forth. Now and -then he sang the lines of the song he had made, the last lines:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>In the night-time between two empty days,</p> -<p class='line0'>The Silver One riding in the sky</p> -<p class='line0'>Singing hand in hand with her sister stars,</p> -<p class='line0'>Singing, because the life of men is an empty dream.</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>When at last the stars pricked the dark, great was his -grief to find that the Silver One was not among them. He -searched well, thinking that she hid perhaps behind a leaf, -but soon he knew that her sisters went their way alone. -Long and long he looked, and at last, wearied and sad at -heart, fell asleep, weeping that he had lost the thing to him -most dear.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As he slept he dreamed that the earth was bathed in a -great white light, a light that was both light and music, at -which he became wonderfully happy. He dreamed that -he was lifted up as on a cloud, lifted up high into the -heavens and could see, far below him, countless sweetly -turning spheres of light; and across great dark spaces and -gulfs of blackness were other and new stars; and from the -edge of nothingness to the edge of nothingness all was a-tune. -Still, for all that, his heart was heavy, because in all that -stardust there was no Silver One. What was most strange -was this: though his heart was heavy, yet a joy was in him, -a sad joy for that he felt himself as a tight-stretched golden -string that quivered in tune with the music all about. So -he awoke and saw standing by his side a maiden clothed in -white, whose eyes looked into his heart with deep love.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Arise, Rairu,” said she, “for I have come to cheer and -to comfort. I am the Silver One and you may keep me -with you.” So saying she became small, small but none the -less beautiful, so small indeed that she might have stood -in the palm of Rairu’s hand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then Rairu was the happiest of mortals. He cast about -him for a casket in which to keep his treasure, but finding -none worthy, bethought him of his gourd, a thing which he -had carved and adorned with much excellent skill. Having -cleaned it well, so well that not a grain of dust was in it, he -set it on the ground on its side in a clean place and the -Silver One stepped into it, resting lightly on a bed of -light-green moss. All that day Rairu went about, now and -then taking the cover from the gourd to look within and -gaze with delight at the eyes of the Silver One looking up -at him. Whenever he did that, from the gourd there came -a sound of melting music, so entrancing a sound that Rairu -felt himself to be a part of all things—a part of the very -heavens and the stars and the sun and the moon. Even of -the forest with its animals and birds, its trees and its pools, -he was a part.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Day and night strange things the Silver One told Rairu, -and of those things that which he found most sad was her -telling that when the day came on which he took his eyes -from her and thought of other things on which she would -not look, things which hid from her in dark places and -under roofs, then there would be a dividing and she would -become to him but as an aching memory. At that Rairu, -after pondering awhile, always laughed, telling her that no -sword could sever the thread that bound them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There came a day when the Silver One told Rairu that it -would be well if they visited the sky-world for a season, -and to do that Rairu was quite willing. So at her bidding -Rairu sat among the leaves of a palm tree and the Silver -One crept out of the gourd and took her place by his side. -With a little stick she touched the tree, and at that it grew -rapidly, grew until it carried them into a place all bare -and treeless, without birds or flowers. The Silver One told -Rairu to wait a while and she would return. She sped -away and Rairu kept her in his sight, for her light did not -dim.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Soon, to his astonishment he saw, close at hand, a beautiful -city with shining towers and moving lights of many -colours, and about it went a joyful procession of young men -and maidens, dancing and singing and playing instruments. -Many beckoned to him to follow them, which he did. Soon -he came to a great hall, and as he entered a great burst of -music sounded, whereupon all there fell to dancing, whirling -wildly. Wilder and more wild grew the music; it became -a welter of sound, a boiling flood of strange noise that -set his brain on fire. From corners leaped evil and ugly -things, bats, swine, evil-eyed carrion-birds, blunt-tailed and -mud-coloured serpents and great white toads, soft and -clammy. In the wild dance they joined and the din grew -louder, so that it seemed to Rairu that his ears must crack. -But more fearful things there were, so that Rairu fled to -the place where he had stood when the Silver One left him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She was there waiting for him, but her eyes, though still -full of love, were filled with sad tears. Very gently she -chided him for his disobedience, and Rairu hung his head -in sorrow and shame, knowing that he must leave the Silver -One for a season. It needed no words to tell that the -thread was broken. Hand clasped hand then, the more -passionately because they knew that there would be a parting.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Go then, Rairu,” said she. “But mind well that a little -toil, a little striving, and thou shalt find me again. In the -darkness lean on me, the more because thou knowest thyself -to be weak. Under the shadow of death, dear Rairu, -a fainting love is revived.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So Rairu returned to earth, but great was his desire to -find again that which he had lost. And he told his fellow-men -of all that he had seen, saying that he must again find -his star. Soon, with searching, he found his Silver One and -the clear light led him, clothing all that he said and did -with beauty.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo194.jpg' alt='' id='illo194' style='width:80%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo197.jpg' alt='' id='illo197' style='width:100%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>THE CAT AND THE DREAM MAN</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><img class='dropcap' src='images/T.jpg' style='float:left;' alt='T'/>HIS is a tale that I heard when I was gold digging -in Tierra del Fuego, and if you want to get to the -tale and skip the introduction, you may. To do -that, stop here—and pass over everything until you come to -the three stars * * * and begin at “Many years ago.” -But if you want information and all that kind of thing, read -straight on and learn that the man who told me the tale was -named Soto, Adolpho Soto. He called himself a Bolivian -and said that it was a tale of Bolivia, but he had never been -to that country. His parents were Bolivian, but he had -been born and reared in inland Patagonia, on the east side -of the Cordilleras and north of the great shallow gulf that -runs inland from the Strait of Magellan. Anyway, he -had heard the tale from others who knew all about the three -great stones and how they looked. Certainly he had not -read the story, for books meant nothing to him and he would -not as much as look at a picture. And it was quite clear -to me that he believed every word of the tale. Indeed, I -am almost sure that he was doubtful in his mind as to the -wisdom of telling me all of it, thinking that I would not -believe it. Perhaps that is why he told me the tale in two -parts, as if in some manner I might thus get used to the shock -of it. Mind you, on the other hand, I am certain that he -did not believe all that I told him, though he was too polite -to express unbelief. For instance, he could not quite see -how carriages went without horses, nor how men sent messages -over miles of wire, nor how the sound of a human -voice could come from a little box, without magic; for in -the country that Adolpho came from there were no railways, -no telegraphs, and no phonographs. So to the tale, -or rather the first part of it, if you choose to hear it.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;font-weight:bold;'>* * *</p> - -<h3><span class='it'>The First Part</span></h3> - -<p class='pindent'>Many years ago, said Soto, there came into the world a -cat. It was in the days when all creatures were harmless; -when the teeth and claws of the jaguar did not hurt; when -the fang of the serpent was not poisonous; when the very -bushes had no thorns. But this cat was of evil heart and -unmerciful and a curse to the world, for she went about -teaching creatures to scratch and to bite, to tear and to kill, -to hide in shady places and leap out on unsuspecting things. -Even a sheep she did not leave to its own ways, but commenced -to teach that gentle thing to fight by butting with -its head, though as it came to pass most luckily, the cat came -to a place where its mischief was stopped, as you shall hear -soon, so that señor sheep was left with his lesson half or less -than half learned, so that the youngest child now need not -fear a whole flock.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But for the most part the cat slept in the daytime, so did -not make all the mischief that she might have made, although -she dreamed mischief, let it be remembered. But -this was the bad thing of it: her dream came to life and -walked the earth in the shape of a man with a fox-face, and -a very terrible monster was he, for being a dream man he -could not be killed. That you may see for yourself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sometimes he appeared among men, dressed in fine robes -in a way of a rich man, clothes wonderfully fine, as fine as -those that you may see about the men pictured on the playing -cards. Sometimes it was otherwise and he came as -one all worn and travel-stained. Sometimes he came as a -head without a body, making mouths or looking slantwise; -sometimes he ran at people, did this dream man, ran with -hooked fingers and claw nails and made it so that the one -he chased could not run at all, or running, moved but -slowly. For such must be the nature of the dreams of -cats, as everyone knows who has seen a cat with a mouse. -But whichever way the dream man came, mischief of some -kind walked with him, and for the most part he did his evil -work by granting men their wishes. For you must know -that no man knows the thing that is best for him and for his -welfare, and many are apt to see some little things as desirable, -the which in time work out for their own undoing. -Thus, once there was a man who was a woodcutter, and -growing weary of hard work he sat him down under a tree -and sighed, saying that though he worked hard, yet his -work was never done, and there were many mouths to feed. -Then who should appear before him but the fox-faced man, -which of course was but the cat-dream come to life, the cat -meantime being asleep in the sun. So this happened:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why do you complain?” asked the fox-faced one, who -knew very well what was afoot.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All day I cut and chop, and chop and cut, but at the -end of the day little is the work that I have done, and my -very children for whom I toil, and for whom my wife toils, -do but grumble that I am not rich,” answered the poor fellow, -who was indeed a very worthy man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Lucky for you, then, is it that you have seen me,” said -fox-face. “For know that I have it in my power to grant -you a wish. What then would you have?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that, the woodcutter was thoughtful, for, in the -manner of those who see a dream man, everything seemed -right and proper. Still, while he had in his life wished -for many things from day to day, when the time came to -make a wish he had none ready. Then his eye fell on his ax -and he said without thinking: “For one thing I wish that -my ax was an ax so that when I cut a stick or anything, I -would have two as big as the first one.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To be sure, had he given thought he might have seen how -foolish a wish was that, as both cat and fox-face knew. But -he spoke as the wind blew. Then fox-face said some words -which the woodcutter did not understand, and added: “Try -now your ax.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So the man took a stick about the size of a man’s arm -and brought down his ax in the middle of it, and lo, there -were two sticks, each the size of a man’s arm, instead of two -pieces each the half of that. The man looked up, open-mouthed -and surprised, to say something, but fox-face had -vanished, for the cat had wakened and so her dream ceased.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But greatly amazed was the man, for, as he soon saw, all -his chopping was of no account, for a tree cut down became -at once two trees and one of those trees cut in halves became -two trees again. As for cutting smaller wood, that, too, -soon became impossible, seeing that each stick grew to two -sticks, so that soon he had to cease work because of the wood -all about him. Worse still, as he went to the place where -he lived, there came across his path a poisonous serpent, -and forgetting for a moment the power of his ax he cut the -snake in two, and there, hissing before him, were two snakes. -So he fled to his people and told them the tale, at which -they wondered greatly. But to make sure that the ax would -do no mischief, and in truth somewhat fearing it, they hung -it in a tree, and each man told his son the story of it, so -that all might come to know it as a thing best left alone.</p> - -<h3>II</h3> - -<p class='pindent'>Now in the course of time there came to that place a very -wise man who had seen many wonders. It had come to his -ears that the cat was a creature of darkness, teaching harmless -things evil tricks, but of the fox-faced man he knew -nothing. The cat only, he considered. So the wise man -walked the mountains for many days, and one day when the -sky was low and it was a day of rain, an unpleasant day for -the cat, he came upon the evil-minded creature hurrying -somewhere.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why in so great a hurry?” asked the wise man. “Sit -awhile with me and talk.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No. No,” said the cat. “I like not your water and I -seek a place where there is shelter, so that I may be dry and -warm.” Indeed, the cat looked very miserable indeed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, how would you like to have a house of stone?” -asked the wise man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That I should like very much indeed,” answered the cat. -“But it must be a house large enough for me, and with no -room for any other creature, for I am not fond of company. -But a house in which I could sit and dream, and where no -noises might disturb, would be very pleasant. Make me -such a one and I shall teach you something. Or how about -a wish? Would you like to have claws like an owl? Or -would you like to drink blood like a vampire bat? Or -would you like to spit poison? Or would you like to -bristle like a porcupine?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thank you, no,” said the wise man. “I want nothing. -But by to-morrow there shall be a house ready for you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where is it to be built?” asked the cat. “First, it must -be in a quiet place where men do not go.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It shall be that,” answered the wise man. “But just -now I do not know where the place may be. I must seek a -proper place.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then how shall I find it?” asked the cat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Attend,” said the wise man. “I shall put a thread about -the world, a thread that no man may break with his hands, -and when you see that thread, follow it and so come to the -stone house.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Agreed,” said the cat. “But let the house be just big -enough for me. Let it be in a quiet place. Also, let it be -of such fashion that I can slip out backward or leap out forward -should an enemy come.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So that being said and no more to come, man and cat parted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But mark well what followed. On the next day the cat -chanced to see the thread and followed it, walking down -hill and up hill, down mountain and up mountain, until -she arrived at a high place where stood the wise man. At -his feet were three flat stones, two standing upright, the -third across the top of the two, so that it was like two sides -of a little house, roofed and of a comfortable size for the -cat. So after looking about carefully and suspiciously, the -cat entered into it and coiled her tail about her, blinked her -eyes once, twice, thrice, then slept. And as soon as she was -well asleep the wise man fastened the thread about her -neck, the same thread which went about the world and -which no man could break with his hands, there being -magic about it, and señora cat was bound for years, and -would have been bound for ever, had it not been for Nasca, -about whom you shall hear.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That ends the tale of the cat, though there is much more -to come. And if you are in a hurry to get to the rest of the -tale, you may skip from this—to the three stars * * * -again, without losing much.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I said that it ended the tale of the cat, but it does not. -It ends the first part only, for Adolpho went only thus far, -and the telling took the whole of an evening, for there was -much looping and winding in his telling and he added -much that had nothing to do with the tale. Indeed, you -should be very grateful indeed to me for trimming all the -uninteresting stuff away. And let me tell you this: it was -not at all easy to get Adolpho to tell the rest of the tale, and -the place in which we sat when we talked was not comfortable. -It was no house with radiators and electric lights, -or bathtubs and bookshelves. Indeed, the only furniture -that we had was a frying-pan without a handle and an -iron pot. As for our house, it looked more like a short -stout bottle than a dwelling. For the truth is that we were -careless builders and had made our house out of sods of -earth; but while we started to build a square house, we did -not take care of the corners, and the house came roundish -and the walls leaned inward as they went higher, so we left -the top open by way of chimney, for our fire was built in -the middle of the floor. Thus such was the shape of our -house that we had to sleep curved and we had to stand -curved, though we rarely stood, because of the smoke, I -assure you.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Almost three weeks passed away before Adolpho told me -the rest of the tale and it was a cold night in June when -he did. After supper he commenced, perhaps because it -was the kind of stew that he liked best. For the most of -the stew was fish. I said “the most of the stew,” because -our stews were different from those you have. If on Monday -we had a piece of huanaco meat, we put it in the iron -pot to stew. There would be something left over, for we -always made a little more than we required and we never -wasted food. So, supper being done, the iron pot with the -remains of the stew was put aside. Perhaps next day we -might have caught or shot a young goose, or something like -that. Anyway, whatever we caught went into the pot by -way of stew. So that day there would be goose stew with -a flavour of huanaco. Next day we might add charqui, -which is dried horse-flesh, to the stew, so while the chief -thing would be charqui, there would be a decided flavour -of goose and more than a trace of huanaco. But if we had -fish on the fourth day, then of course it would be strongly -fishy stew, with a kind of side taste of charqui, a flavour of -goose, and a mild trace of huanaco. On the whole it was -satisfactory, for toward the end of the week any one might -find something to his liking, though on Saturday we always -cleaned out the pot, as we needed it for our week’s washing. -And so, as I say, when we came one evening to fish stew, -Adolpho was in high good humour and told me the rest of -the tale, and this is how his story ran.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;font-weight:bold;'>* * *</p> - -<h3><span class='it'>The Second Part of the Tale</span></h3> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, began Soto, you must remember all that I have -told you about the cat bound on the mountain top, the magic -ax hanging in the tree, and the hundreds and hundreds of -years that passed, with the cat growing larger and larger. As -the cat grew, so did the house, for the wise man had promised -that it should be just big enough for the cat, and he kept -his word. But you must also remember that the cat could -not move, but could certainly dream. So she dreamed of -many lands, and the dream man was very active indeed, -though he vanished whenever the cat woke.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When you come to think of it, you will see that it was a -most excellent thing that the cat was bound, for had she not -been, she would have worked her mischief on the world and -a sheep might have been as terrible as a wild boar or flies -as annoying as mosquitoes or horses as bold as wild bulls or -the very fish as poisonous as serpents. While the cat did -not dream, of course the fox-faced man was nowhere, and -then all went very well and trees put out their blossoms and -fruits, the grass was softly green, the rain was like silver, -and gentle were the hearts of men as they went about their -affairs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But there was a day on which the cat dreamed and the -fox-faced fellow was busy. To the place where lived the -people who guarded the magic ax, there came a stranger. -His eyes were aslant and little, the hair of him was reddish, -and he was in rags and tatters and altogether dirty in appearance. -To be sure, no one would look twice at rags and -tatters, for one coming through the forest must needs be torn -by thorns and bushes in all that tangle, but dirt was quite -another matter, especially when the dirt included blood -stains, because in that place was much water and many -running streams, nor was the water chill to the skin. So, -because of the uncleanness of the man, people looked at him -with unfriendly eyes, and though they were neither insolent -nor rude they hoped that he would go farther and not stay -there. Nor would it have been any great hardship for -him to do so, seeing that it was a place of much fruit and -of many berries, and roots pleasant to the taste and full of -nourishment. As for the night, any man might well stretch -himself under that star-sprinkled sky, nor except for the -beasts that the cat had made unfriendly were there creatures -to do harm. But the stranger had no notion of doing -anything to please the people, nor indeed could he do anything, -seeing that he was the creature of the cat’s dream, -walking the world.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For a time then he stood under a tree bewailing his lot -and crying out that all the world was against him and saying -that none were kind to him. Strange things he did, too, as -is the manner of dream people, making himself sometimes -shoot far far away so that he looked small, then coming near -again and getting big, or sometimes pointing his finger at -someone, then throwing his arm round and round in great -circles, the finger always pointing, the circles he made -growing smaller and smaller, little by little, but his finger -always pointing, until it came close to the watcher’s eyes. -The people thought this an annoying thing for a stranger -to do; but so it was. And always he woefully wailed. So -those there stood about him in a little circle, none going -close, but all wondering much at the great outcry, the like -of which none there had heard before. Then he began to -sing, noisily, wildly. This was his song:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Over the world I walk,</p> -<p class='line0'>  Alone, for ever alone.</p> -<p class='line0'>Trouble and trial and care,</p> -<p class='line0'>  Alone, I bear alone.</p> -<p class='line0'>Torture and pain I bear,</p> -<p class='line0'>  Alone, for ever alone.</p> -<p class='line0'>Wandering day and night,</p> -<p class='line0'>  Alone, for ever alone.</p> -<p class='line0'>Sad and wretched my plight,</p> -<p class='line0'>  Alone, for ever alone.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>Then he gave a long, long cry, like a wolf:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“A—a—a—a—a——lone, Oo—oo—oo—oo!”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>Nor did he stop at that, for his song done, he began to act -stupidly, leaping from side to side in rage and fury, -mouthing and grimacing, opening and closing his fists, but -making no noise. Then he talked again, but it was a -jabber of idle words, so presently those about him shook -their heads at one another, looking at him as one who had -lost his wits, never thinking of course that he was a cat’s -dream.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While all this was going on, there came from the little -lake where he had been fishing a lad named Nasca, bearing -a basket of fish, a happy fellow who always made music and -song as he walked, and seeing the people gathered about the -stranger he drew near. No sooner did the stranger clap -eyes on the fish than he leaped at the basket and began -devouring the silvery things, eating them raw, heads, bodies, -and tails, for thus ran the cat’s dream and cattishness must -out. But the meal being done, the stranger redoubled his -lamentations, all the time swinging his arm in circles, sometimes -great, sometimes small, with his finger pointed at the -boy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A—a—a—a—a——lone, Oo—oo—oo—oo!” he -screamed, and the boy thought that such a fellow well deserved -to be alone, but he was too polite to say so.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am hungry and travel-worn,” the stranger went on. -“Is there no one here who will give me shelter? Is there -no one in this place with a kind heart to pity me?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that, the heart of Nasca was touched, for never -had he, nor never had his grandmother with whom he lived, -turned a hungry creature away empty. Indeed, so gentle -in spirit was Nasca that if the stem of a flower was broken -by a heedless creature he was full of grief. Yet the doings -of the stranger astonished him and troubled him, for the -man without seeming to move his feet thrust his face close -to the boy’s, then somehow took his face far off. That -silly trick he did again and again as dream creatures do, so -that seeing him Nasca was well nigh made dizzy. Then -the lad, blushing red as fire because of all the people thereabouts -who did not offer what he offered, said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Come home, then, with me. Our house is small but -there is room enough. Believe me, it is not that these -people are hard-hearted that they do not seem to welcome -you, but more because you must have been too weary with -walking to wash yourself. But behind the hill and under -a tree near where we live is a still pool, and there doubtless -you will clean yourself.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then Nasca led the way and the stranger went with him, -yet not walking, but leaping up and down as he went, and -sometimes not touching the ground at all. Nasca was not -comfortable with the stranger by his side, for he felt him -to be more like a shadow than a man, and a shadow that -hung over him and tormented him, a shadow that might -pounce upon him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Having come to the place where his grandmother was, -Nasca was sorely troubled to see the old woman fall to -trembling when she heard the voice of the stranger, who -was making an idle jabber of words again. Indeed, after -a time she put her hands to her face and wept, though that -was after the man having eaten had left the place to rest -under a tree. Nasca comforted her as best he could, then -asked her to tell him the cause of her grief. Be it remembered -that she was very, very old and her eyes were -weak and dim with age.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tell me,” she said, taking Nasca’s hand, “has this man -eyes aslant, like the eyes of a fox?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Indeed and he has,” answered Nasca. Then his heart -bade him say some good of the fellow, and he added: “Yet -no man makes his own face, wherefore must some be pitied.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tell me,” said the grandmother eagerly, “has he sharp -teeth like a cat?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That he has,” said Nasca, then wondering, asked: -“Have you seen this man, then, when your eyes were bright -and strong?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, Nasca,” she answered, “never have I set eyes on -him, yet I greatly fear him; and long, long ago I heard -stories about such a creature and it was said that much evil -he wrought, yet none could slay him.” She was silent for -a little, then again she asked this: “Did you see his ears, -Nasca, and are they pointed, like those of a fox?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes,” said Nasca.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At that answer the old woman was sad again and Nasca -had to comfort her with sweet words, telling her that she -should come to no hurt, since he was there, for he would -die defending her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That I know, Nasca,” she said. “If the hurt came to -me alone, glad would I be, for I have seen my golden days -and now there is little left for me but the brief sunset hour. -But I fear for others. Of such a creature I have heard it -said that he comes from nowhere and goes into nothing, -but somehow looses evil upon men. Because of that I fear. -So, Nasca, promise me that if this man asks anything of -you, you will do nothing that promises hurt to any living -thing.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That Nasca promised gladly enough, then said: “Yet it -may be that this man is not the evil creature you have -heard of. It may well be some unfortunate whose wits are -loose. True, his face is far from pleasant to see, but a rough -face may go with a good heart, and a man’s face may -change.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, with wickedness,” said the old woman, “but in truth -it has been said that a man’s face and his character both go -with him to the grave, if indeed there is any grave for such -as this.”</p> - -<h3>II</h3> - -<p class='pindent'>Now all that talk Nasca remembered well the next day -when a strange thing happened. For the stranger went -about among the people, asking this one and that what he -most desired. But there were none to make a wish for a -time, because life there was pleasant and easy and the -possessions of men were few, so all that the stranger said -went for nothing. Then, as it chanced, there came one of the -people a little put out because he had lost sleep that morning. -He was a man much given to rest and slumber, a slow -and heavy man, and that morning he had been awakened -by the singing of the birds. To make matters worse, going -away from the place where he had lain, in too great a -hurry, he chanced to scratch himself on some thorns. So, -taking it all in all, his humour was not a pleasant one; yet -had it not been for the stranger, he might have forgotten his -troubles. As it was, he heard the stranger’s speech and the -offer to grant any wish, so he spoke without considering his -words.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If you grant wishes, there is one that I would have,” he -said, nodding to his friends in the manner of one who had -a matter of weight to tell of.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Say it,” said the stranger, and he grinned queerly so that -his lip went up and his tusky teeth shone yellow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This morning I was disturbed by birds and scratched by -thorns, so I wish that nothing might come near me to disturb -me in the future.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“As you wish,” said the stranger, and gabbled what -seemed to be idle and meaningless words.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then a strange thing happened, for as the man who had -made the wish stood looking at the stranger, his mouth -wide open, all living things about him suddenly fell away. -Within the stretch of a man’s arm from him the grass -yellowed and died, and the flowers shrank and withered, -and a butterfly that fluttered over him fell to earth, dead. -And the people cried out, seeing that, but soon it became -clear that not even sounds could come within that magic -circle. The air bore no noise to the charmed man, not even -the sweet noise of the songs of birds nor the chirping of -insects, and the man was, in very truth, in such case that -nothing could be nigh him to disturb him. Indeed, as he -moved, all things died within the stretch of his arms, seeing -which his friends fled from him, all fearful of his nearness. -Afraid of his loneliness the man walked to a tree, but no -sooner did he touch it than the very leaves folded themselves -and turned black, then dropped off and fluttered down, so -that the arms of the good tree stood skeleton-bare against -the sky. At that all hope in the man was gone and he -turned and fled into the forest, a space opening before him -as he ran, a track of death everywhere behind him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nasca saw all that, and his grandmother’s fears came to -his mind. Indeed, he told many there of what the old -woman had said, but some of them held that the stranger -had but granted the wisher his wish, and if there was fault -in the matter the fault lay with the wisher, not with the -granter of the wish. As for the grandmother, when she -heard the tale she was in great trouble and threw herself -on the ground weeping, and though Nasca did what he -could to comfort her, yet she wept and wept.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Nasca,” she said presently, “surely we must do what we -can to rid the place of this fearful creature. For it is as I -thought, and he is a black-hearted thing, not of this world -of men, and one who will assuredly bring hate and fear and -trouble. Find, then, if there is any means by which he may -be made to go away, even to the point of helping him, if need -be, but see to it that you think not of yourself and your own -gain, and see to it that anything that you do at his request -will bring no harm to any living creature, even the smallest.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All this Nasca promised, and in the early dawn of the -next day went up to the hills to see the sun rise, as indeed -did all brave and strong men and fair maidens in that place. -Then he swam a little while, and ate some fruit and thought -a while, and after sought out the stranger.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Stranger,” said he, “be it known to you that there are -many here who fear your presence among us and who would -be glad to see you gone from here.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ho! Ho! What bold words are these I hear?” roared -fox-face, full of wrath at Nasca’s words.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I speak but the truth,” said the lad boldly enough, though -his heart beat against his ribs. “Tell me, then, what can be -done so that you may be persuaded to leave us.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Fox-face thought awhile, then he said: “On a far mountain -is a gentle creature bound with a magic thread which -no man’s hand can break. Yet magic fights magic, and the -magic ax can sever the thread. Also, at the moment the -thread is cut, so will the man who is prisoned in air be free, -but not before. Now the bound creature is my companion -and no fierce thing at all. Come with me, Nasca, bringing -the magic ax, and when you have seen the cat, then perchance -shall the spell be broken.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All of that seeming fair to Nasca, he went to the tree -where hung the magic ax, though he had much ado to -climb through the tangle all about the tree, for no man had -been there for many a year. He took the ax and fastened -it well in his sash, and returned to the side of the stranger. -Then fox-face took a mat made of feathers of the night owl -and the hair of the skunk, and spread it on the ground, but -it was so small that there was scarce place for Nasca and -the man too, so the lad cut it with the magic ax and there -were two mats, which was more to Nasca’s taste, for he had -no liking to stand on the mat and hold on to fox-face. No -sooner had they taken their places on the mats than they -rose in the air, and in a swift moment both of them were so -high that the country lay spread at their feet with trees like -grass and with rivers that looked like silver threads. Nor -could the swiftest condor move with the speed with which -they flew through the air. So at last they came to a place -where everywhere were bare rocks and hard stone, with no -blade of grass to be seen, and it was a place among mountain -peaks, with stony ridge rising above stony ridge, and -on a mountain peak the two rested.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now look away to the far hill,” said the stranger, and -while the place to which he pointed was very far off, yet -because of the clearness of the air it seemed but a short -distance away. Looking steadily Nasca saw the three great -rocks, for they were tremendously grown now, after so many -hundreds of years, but to Nasca they seemed no higher than -a man’s knee, and sitting under them was the cat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That is the companion I seek,” said fox-face. “By -magic she is bound and by magic only can she be loosed, -and I promise you that if you will but loose her I shall be -seen no more in your land.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Fair enough,” said Nasca. “But I must be assured of -a return to my own place, for it is far from home on these -hills.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That is well enough,” answered fox-face. “Have you -not your flying mat? Though to be sure, as soon as you -take your foot from it it will vanish.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nasca thought for a little while, and the more he thought -the more it seemed to him to be a good thing and not an -evil to loose the cat, so he asked the stranger to show him -the bond that held her. At that fox-face pointed, and there -almost at his feet Nasca beheld a slender thread, like a hair, -that ran this way and that as far as the eye could see. So -with a blow of the magic ax he cut the thread, and there -was a noise like thunder and the thread ends slid away like -swift snakes. Nor did the stranger play Nasca false, for -in a flash he found himself back again at the foot of the -tree where the magic ax had hung, and so swiftly had the -journey been made that a man who had stooped to fill his -calabash at a pool when Nasca left, was even then straightening -himself to go away, his calabash being filled. As -for the fox-faced stranger, no one ever saw him again, for -the cat being awakened, her dream had ended. And at -the moment when the thread was cut, the man who had -been bound in air came back again, his enchantment finished, -and the things that had died about him, because of -invisible forces, sprang to life again.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But what of the cat? For Nasca little thought that he -had loosed a fearful thing on the world, a frightful form -of giant mould of a size bigger than a bull. Nor did he -know until one evening, as he sat by the fire, it being chill -in that high place at times, he turned his head as the robe -that hung at the door bulged into the house. He looked to -see his grandmother, but instead a great cat filled the doorway, -a cat with green eyes, each the size of an egg. Indeed -so great was the cat that it had to crouch low to enter. And -when within, the room was filled with it, a sight that made -the heart of Nasca stand still. A gloomy terror it was, and -most fiendish was the look that it gave the lad. But Nasca, -though terror-stricken, yet showed no sign of fear. Instead, -he made room for the cat by the fire as though he saw cats -like that every day. So the cat sat by the fire and close to -Nasca, sometimes looking at the blaze without winking, -sometimes turning its great head to look for long and long -at the boy. Once Nasca stood up, saying that he would go -outside and bring in more wood for the fire, privately thinking -to get out of the place in safety, but the great paw of the -cat shot out with claws that looked like reaping hooks, -whereupon Nasca sat down again saying that, after all, the -fire would live awhile. But he thought and thought and -the cat looked and looked, and the place was as still and -quiet as a midnight pool.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Presently Nasca found heart to say something.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If you want to stay here and rest,” he said to the cat, “I -shall go away.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You must not go away,” said the cat in a soft voice, -stretching out one of her paws with the cruel claws showing -a little.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After that a long time passed and the fire flamed only a -little, and the shadow of the cat was big and black on the -wall, and Nasca thought and thought and the cat looked -and looked. Then the firelight danced and the big black -shadow seemed to leap and then grow small, and the cat’s -eyes were full of a cold fire as they rested on Nasca.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then suddenly Nasca broke into a laugh, though, to be -sure, the laugh did not come from his heart.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why do you laugh?” said the cat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Because you are so big and I am so little, but for all that -I can run ten times faster than you,” answered Nasca, and -his words sounded bold enough. He added: “All living -creatures would agree in that.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That is nonsense,” said the cat, her jealousy at once -aroused. “I am the fastest creature on earth. I can leap -over mountains and I take rivers at a step.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It does not matter what you can do,” said Nasca, growing -bolder every second. “Let me tell you this: While a man -stooped to fill his calabash, I went from this place to a far -mountain, cut the thread that bound you, and returned before -the man with the calabash had straightened himself, -and if you do not believe it, I will bring the man.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nasca said all this with some idea of getting an excuse -to go from there, but the words struck deep and the cat -wondered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why did you loose me?” asked the cat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Because I wanted to run a race with you,” answered -Nasca.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If we run a race it must be for a wager,” said the cat. -“If you lose I make a meal of you. Is it agreed?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Fairly spoken,” said Nasca, “though to be sure if you -lose I make no meal of you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let us run to-morrow then,” said Nasca. “And I shall -sleep well under the tree and be fresh in the morning.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not so,” said the cat. “If we run, we run at midnight -and under the cold white moon.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“So be it,” answered Nasca. “Where shall we run?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Across the mountains and back again, seven times,” said -the cat, choosing the highlands, because she knew that she -could leap over hills and cañons, while Nasca would have -to climb up and down, and choosing night because she could -see better in the dark than Nasca. For the cat was very -wise. But Nasca on his part thought of little more than -getting away from the cat for a while. So he told the cat -that he would bring a basket of fish for her supper, which -he did, and while the cat ate he went outside and sought his -grandmother.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The wise old woman laughed when she heard the story. -“To a cat her cattishness,” she said, “but to a woman her wit. -All falls out well enough. Haste, run and bring me the -magic ax.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But no,” said Nasca. “To use that would but make two -terrible cats, and one is more than enough.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Heed me, Nasca, and bring the ax,” she repeated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At that the boy ran swiftly and brought the ax.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now stand, Nasca, and fear not,” said the old woman, -and lifted the ax. So the lad stood, closing his eyes when -he saw her raise the ax to strike.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then with a swift blow she brought the weapon down on -Nasca’s head, cutting him in two, and in a moment there -stood before her two Nascas, each as like the other as one -blade of grass is like another. Surely and well had the ax -done its work. One Nasca was as shapely as the other, one -as fair-skinned as the other.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now,” said the old woman, “happy was I with one -Nasca, so doubly happy shall I be with two. So stay you -here, Nasca the first, and Nasca the second must come with -me. Oh, a merry world and a glad will it be now, since -joy and gladness are doubled.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At that she remembered that she had told neither lad -anything, in her delight, so she turned again to the first -Nasca.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Wait here for the great cat,” she said. “Go with her -to the great cañon where the race must start, and when the -cat makes to leap across, which she will do, do you climb -down a little way, then hide yourself until the cat returns. -Doubtless we shall be able to manage matters at the other -end. But see to it that you chide the cat for her slowness -when she returns after the first run, and we shall see what -we shall see.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Having said that, the old woman set off with Nasca the -second, walking bravely over the ridges and hills that rose -one behind the other like the waves of the sea. And when -they had come to a far place where the mountain dropped -down like a great stone wall to a fearful depth, they sat -them down to wait, Nasca the second being in plain sight, -the old woman hiding behind a rock.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But as soon as the moon rose the great cat walked to -where Nasca the first stood, her eyes glaring terribly and -her hair all a-bristle. So horrible a sight was she that for -a moment Nasca went deadly pale, but he spoke boldly -enough, nevertheless, for the brave one is not he that does -not fear, but rather he that fears and yet does the thing that -he has set out to do.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“One thing,” said Nasca to the cat. “Is it right that you -should leap over the cañon, going from one side to the other -like a bird, while I must climb down and then up again? -Let us make things fairer in the race, and do you climb -down and up the other side with me.” But all this he said -in a kind of spirit of mischief, knowing full well that the cat -would give him no chance at all.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ha! What is to do now?” said the cat with a hiss and -a sneer. “Does your heart fail you already? Are you -terror-tormented at the start? A fine racer, you, indeed! -No, no, my fine lad. We race for a supper and you must -supply the meal.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To that Nasca answered nothing, so there was a little -silence, broken only by the hooting of the owl who was, indeed, -trying to tell the cat the truth of matters. But the -cat was too full of her own notions and had no ear for -others. She lay crouched on the ground, ready to make a -spring, and Nasca wondered whether her jump would be -at him or across the cañon. Suddenly, in a voice like -thunder, the cat called: “START!” and at the word, leaped -across the valley and was off and away, without as much as -giving a glance at the lad. But he made a great deal of -fuss on his part, climbing down the face of the cañon wall. -The cat, on landing on the other side, looked back, then gave -a cry of triumph, seeing the poor start that Nasca had -made. “Come on! Come on!” she called. “The run will -sharpen my appetite,” and even as she said that, she was a -distance off, then bounding away up hill and down hill, over -the ridges, over the rocks, over the streams, taking a hundred -yards at a bound. So in a very short space of time she -came to the place where Nasca the second stood, and was -mightily astonished to see her opponent, as she thought, -there before her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Too easy, señora cat, too easy,” said Nasca the second, -speaking as the grandmother bade him. “I thought cats -were swifter. Doubtless you play, though.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hearing that speech the cat was full of anger and in a -voice that shook the mountains, she roared: “BACK! -BACK AGAIN! I’ll show you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Off ran Nasca the second then, but the cat passed him like -lightning, her very whiskers streaming behind, and as soon -as she was over the first hill the lad went back to the place -where his grandmother was. Señora cat knew nothing of -that, though, and went bounding as before, tearing up hill -and down hill, over the ridges, over the rocks, over the -streams, taking two hundred yards at a leap, and at last -came to the place of beginning, to behold Nasca, who stood -smiling and wiping his brow lightly, as if he had been -running.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Much better, señora cat,” he said. “You almost caught -me that time. A little faster and you would have won. But -still I have more speed in me to let loose. Come on.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No sooner were the words out of his mouth than he -started off, making as though to climb down the cañon -wall, and the cat gave a screech that shook the very skies and -made the pale moon quiver. So fast she went that the very -trees and bushes that she passed were scorched, and as for -the rocks over which she flew, they were melted by the heat -of the air. Every leap that she took was four hundred -yards. Up hill and down hill she went, over the ridges, -over the rocks, over the streams, and so at last she came once -more to where the second Nasca stood.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A good run that, señora cat,” he said. “I think that we -shall finish the race soon and in a way that I may live and -be happy, though for me you must go supperless. Certainly -I must try, for to lose will profit me nothing.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But the cat was at her wits’ end, supposing that Nasca -ran faster than she. She opened her mouth to shriek, but -fast upon her came a great feebleness, and she faltered and -reeled and then fell down in a faint, seeing nothing at all. -No time then did the second Nasca and the old woman lose. -Putting themselves to the task, they rolled the cat to the -edge of the great rock wall that ran down straight. Then -after a pause to gain breath they gave another push, and -the body of the giant cat fell over the edge and was broken -to pieces on the sharp rocks below. So that was the end -of the cat and the end of her dreams.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The two Nascas and the old woman went to their own -place and told the people all that had happened, so there -was great rejoicing, and laughter and song and weaving of -garlands, and everybody was happy. And ever since there -has been kindness and good fellowship in that land. And -for those who would see signs of the tale there stand the three -great rocks on the highlands, each so heavy that two hundred -men could not lift them, and wise men wonder much what -manner of men put them there. But only those who are -not wise and learned know the truth of the matter, as you -may test for yourself by asking any very wise men who come -to visit you.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:.8em;'>THE END</p> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/illo225.jpg' alt='' id='iid-0003' style='width:200px;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:4em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:1.2em;'>TRANSCRIBER NOTES</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. -Where multiple spellings occur, majority use has been -employed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious -printer errors occur.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some illustrations were moved to facilitate page layout.</p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FROM SILVER LANDS ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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